GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/05 February) — The city government has started the ground works for its modern hemodialysis center that it planned to open before yearend at the city hospital complex here.
Dr. Benjamin Pagarigan, city hospital chief, said the local government has allocated an initial P10 million for the construction and development of the hemodialysis center, which is supported by the Department of Health (DOH).
He said the construction of the center is part of the city government’s ongoing expansion and upgrading of the city hospital’s facilities and services.
“It will mainly feature the latest hemodialysis equipment and will offer quality and affordable services,” he said.
The official said they are currently finalizing the facility’s administrative and operational systems as well as the proposed rates for its services.
The local government had initially set a service fee of P700 per hemodialysis session but he said they are still assessing whether such rate would be enough to sustain the facility’s operations.
Jose Orlando Acharon, executive assistant of the city mayor’s office, earlier said the facility will start operating with 15 hemodialysis units.
He said the city government is planning to operate the facility through a public-private partnership or PPP scheme.
Based on the proposed dialysis center’s initial plans and specifications approved by the Sangguaniang Panlungsod in April last year, Acharon said the city government will shoulder the construction of the building, water and power supply as counterpart.
He said the local government’s total project counterpart was estimated to cost around P12.
