The local government of Quezon City on Friday announced the opening of the city’s second dialysis facility at the Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital (RMBGH), which aims to provide more accessible and affordable treatment for residents with chronic kidney disease.

In a statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that chronic kidney disease is a growing public concern in the country.

“We hope that by opening this dialysis center and bringing our healthcare services closer to our people, no resident will have to choose between their well-being and their livelihood,” Belmonte said.

According to the Department of Health and the Philippine Renal Disease Registry, more than 40,000 Filipinos undergo dialysis annually. In Quezon City alone, the local Health Department recorded 42 CKD-related deaths in 2024. The new facility seeks to help reduce this number.

The RMBGH Dialysis Center was funded by an P8.5 million allocation from District 2 Congressman Ralph Tulfo, which covered medical equipment and facility upgrades. The center will operate Monday through Saturday, serving up to nine patients daily with sessions averaging five hours, accommodating as many as 54 patients weekly.

“Instead of enduring long waiting times in state hospitals or spending large amounts in private facilities, QCitizens now have access to quality dialysis treatment that is closer to home,” said the mayor.

The service is free for eligible patients through the expanded PhilHealth Dialysis Package, which aims to ease financial burdens on families.

To qualify, patients must submit an endorsement from a nephrologist, a Hepa profile valid for at least six months, their last three treatment sheets, laboratory results, a list of medications, a clinical abstract, and a vaccination record, among other requirements. A valid PhilHealth membership ID number is also necessary.