City of San Fernando Mayor Vilma Caluag and the Luzon Medical System have inaugurated, on October 6, 2022, the Fernandino Dialysis Center.
The two-stores center located at the City Civic Center in San Isidro, houses the hemodialysis treatment area and administrative offices.
Upon the issuance of the license to operate from the Department of Health, the center will begin to deliver free treatments to indigent Fernandino patients – a realization of the Caluag administration’s move to provide excellent quality healthcare to the public.
The construction and operation of the building will not cost the city government a single penny because it was implemented through a Public-Private Partnership with Luzon Medical System. While the water supply will be provided by the City of San Fernando Water District and PrimeWater.
“Makalipas ang ‘pagluha natin ng dugo’ dito, ngayon, maihahatid natin ang libre at dekalidad na hemodialysis treatments sa mga pasyente na wala tayong gagastusin sa pamahalaan. Hindi natin naiwasan ang mga balakid ngunit nilaban at naipanalo natin ito,” said Caluag.
To recall, the City entered a Memorandum of Agreement with Luzon Medical System wherein under the Revenue Sharing portion of the agreement, it was cited the project will implement a “No Balance Billing” policy – making it cost-free to the City Government – and the partner firm will be providing the machines, chairs, and equipment.
The agreement with this firm was realized following a resolution from the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod authored by City Councilor Dr. Ayzel Mari-Grace Macalino.
The ground floor of the center comprises 25 dialysis machines and chairs, and over 60 related equipment and supplies. These can accommodate up to 75 patients per day, Caluag said.
As of this writing, more than 200 patients from different barangays have been enrolled.
The second floor hosts the administrative office, along with stocks, wash, and pantry areas, while the remaining portion of it will be reserved for the center’s expansion that will house additional 15 machines and chairs.
For her part, Norita Ramirez-Ang, Luzon Medical System Director, extended her gratitude to the city government for the fruitful partnership.
“What once a vision now became a reality. Sa proyektong ito, nakatutok si Mayor [Caluag] dahil nais niyang makapag-serbisyo agad ang center sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan. The Luzon Medical System is extending its gratitude to the City for the trust and confidence in us,” Ramirez-Ang said as she represented the firm’s CEO Peter Paul Soliman.
A virtual message was also delivered by Sen. Bong Go who chairs the Senate’s Committee on Health, citing “natutuwa tayo kapag may inisyatibo na mapalapit pa lalo ang serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayan. Lubusan akong nagpapasalamat sa local na pamahalaan ng San Fernando sa programang ito at nawa’y ipagpatuloy natin ang paghahatid ng dekalidad na health services sa ating mga kababayan.”
City Health Officer Dr. Rowena Salas also sent her message of felicitations to the office’s staff, including Health Focal Person Mary Ann Biliwang and Administrative Officer Katrina Andres, and the Technical Working Group members who were “hugely instrumental in complying with all the logistical requirements to come up with successful operations.”
Also attending the activity were City Vice Mayor BJ Lagman, City Councilors, department heads and focal persons, officials from the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and representatives from various partner sectors.