NKTI dialysis center to improve Covid-19 response: Galvez

FILE: National Kidney and Transplant Institute – formerly known as the National Kidney Foundation of the Philippines (NKFP), Quezon Avenue, and on Elliptical Road, Quezon City, circling the Quezon Memorial Circle. (Photo by Judgefloro/Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

MANILA – The construction of a hemodialysis center for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients will significantly improve the country’s capacity to treat cases, particularly those with renal comorbidities, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Friday.

In a statement, Galvez, the chief implementer of the National Action Plan on Covid-19, said the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 supports the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)’s plan to build a hemodialysis center.

The facility with 200 hemodialysis machines will greatly benefit Covid-19 patients during this pandemic, Galvez added.

“The NTF, however, acknowledges the reality that in order for this key health project to proceed, illegal occupants would have to vacate the area, and the establishments they have built there would have to be demolished,” he said.

This came as tensions erupted between informal settlers occupying the lot inside the NKTI and the demolition team of the Quezon City government on Thursday.

Some 25 families were affected by the demolition of houses of informal settlers on the lot where the dialysis center will be constructed.

“The 25 families residing in the area were not informal settlers as they claimed they were, but tenants of these illegal establishments and were thus denied housing privileges,” Galvez said.

He then appealed to the public for understanding the issue.

“As the country faces an unprecedented health crisis, we would like to appeal to the public for sobriety and understanding. Let us not allow our emotions to cloud our good judgment,” he said.

Galvez reiterated the second phase of the national action plan is targeting to balance the revival of the economy and the protecting people’s health amid the pandemic.

“But we must keep in mind that the rule of law must prevail at all times, and based on the law, the NKTI has the legal right to the said area,” he said.

The NKTI management, in a statement, noted the project had been delayed for years due to the presence of informal settlers “that refused to cooperate.”

“Pre-procurement activities have been conducted since the early months of 2018, but issues on the possession of the property have become the primary concern of the prospective project proponents,” NKTI executive director Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete said, noting that demolition works should be done first before the project construction starts.

The NKTI management said the informal settlers who are occupying the area are not underprivileged and the “majority of them are employed by illegal business establishments in the area—making them unqualified for the government’s housing program.

“Accordingly, both the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Local Housing Board have declared them as unfit for any housing privileges,” Rosete-Liquete said.

Meanwhile, as the land inside the NKTI was already cleared of informal settlers, the management said it is preparing to build a five-story building “to cater to the increasing number of renal patients in Quezon City and nearby provinces” amid the health crisis.

Galvez said once the hemodialysis facility becomes operational and functional: “We expect the center to serve thousands of patients who are in need of this life-saving procedure.”

“We must bear in mind that the project’s main intention is to save the lives of both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients, especially our most vulnerable and less fortunate brothers and sisters who are suffering from kidney ailments,” he added. “This project, therefore, cannot be delayed any longer and must begin as soon as possible.”

Galvez reiterated President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks to save more lives as the country continues to wade through the pandemic.

He said the government is doing its best to equally address health and economic issues—as the two are inseparable, “a situation that has become more evident during this pandemic.”

“Public health and safety should go hand in hand with a sound and stable economy,” Galvez said.

“This is the only way we can successfully overcome this health crisis and build back better and stronger,” he added.