BACOLOD City — The Negros Occidental provincial government has opened a government-run hemodialysis unit at the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City to improve access to kidney treatment for residents in the province’s southern communities.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the blessing and inauguration of the facility, which is expected to serve patients from the Sixth District and nearby areas.
The new unit aims to ease the burden on patients who must regularly travel long distances for dialysis, a treatment requiring frequent hospital visits that can entail substantial transportation costs and other expenses.
The inauguration began with a blessing and ceremonial ribbon-cutting, followed by a program attended by officials and stakeholders.
In his message, Lacson emphasized that improving access to quality healthcare remains a priority of his administration, particularly for patients who require continuous medical treatment.
He noted that people undergoing dialysis face not only the physical challenges of their condition but also the financial strain and inconvenience of traveling regularly to medical facilities.
“Healthcare is a basic right, and bringing these services closer to our constituents is one of the best ways we can demonstrate our commitment to public service,” Lacson said.
The governor recognized the contributions of the Provincial Health Office, the Hospital Operations Department, and the management and personnel of the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital, led by Chief of Hospital Dr. Lalaine Teorima, in establishing the facility.
He also acknowledged the support of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), local government officials, and other stakeholders who helped make the initiative possible.
Lacson assured healthcare workers of the provincial government’s continued support for efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system and improve medical services for Negrenses.
The opening of the hemodialysis unit marks another step in the provincial government’s efforts to expand access to essential healthcare services, particularly for residents living outside major urban centers.
With the new facility, patients in southern Negros are expected to have a more accessible option for dialysis treatment, potentially reducing travel time, transportation expenses, and other difficulties associated with seeking care in distant medical facilities./PN
