The dialysis center at the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital in La Carlota City is targeted to resume operations in August, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Friday, Aug. 1.
The center temporarily closed last month after its previous service provider, Nephroprime Corporation, ceased operations.
Diaz said that the facility was left in disrepair and was very dirty, requiring a new reverse osmosis (RO) system to be installed to ensure patient safety.
RO systems are crucial for providing ultra-pure water for dialysis treatments.
With the new RO machine installed the water quality will be tested to ensure it is safe before the center reopens, Diaz said.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with ZRL Group Inc. to provide dialysis services.
ZRL Group will operate the dialysis facilities at both the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital and the Ignacio Lacson Arroyo Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Isabela, the MOA states.
The MOA emphasizes the essential need for these services due to the growing number of patients who require regular hemodialysis treatment.
PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0023, dated Oct. 7, 2024, sets the hemodialysis package rate at P6,350 per treatment session, allocating P6,000 to the health facility and P350 as the professional fee.
The MOA states P3,000 of the fee will go to the provincial government and P3,000 to ZRL as the service provider.
ZRL Group also operates dialysis facilities at the Cadiz District Hospital and the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
Governor Lacson has also committed to establishing a new dialysis center at the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City, Diaz said.*