Senator seeks establishment of 4 treatment centers for hemophilia, bleeding disorders

After three hemophilia patients died of bleeding due to lack of access to proper treatment last month, and with 10,000 Filipinos afflicted with the disorder, a senator is seeking the establishment of four treatment centers for bleeding disorders in different parts of the country.

In Senate Bill 2343, Sen. Grace Poe said the treatment centers for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders should be established in the Philippine General Hospital for Metro Manila and one each in a public or state-owned hospital in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

She said P100 million should be initially appropriated for the implementation of the bill if enacted into law.

Hemophilia is a group of rare and inherited bleeding disorders where the patient’s blood lacks the ability to clot normally. It usually results in bleeding of internal organs and joints even for unexplained reasons.

The Hemophilia Association of the Philippines for Love and Service said about one million more are affected by other types of inherited bleeding disorders such as von Willebrand Disease and other clotting factor deficiencies.

“This is an extremely difficult and trying condition, and we must enable our afflicted countrymen to receive due treatment and care,” Poe said.

Poe said a single treatment for a mild bleed can cost between P15,000 to P50,000 and a complete treatment until active bleeding stops could entail hundreds of thousands and even millions per episode.

She said a Forbes Magazine report estimated the average cost of treating the disorder at around US$62,000 annually.

Poe said effective methods to treat patients with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders such as factor replacement technology and intravenous infusion of factor concentrates are available but not accessible for patients in the country, 95 percent of whom are poor. These methods provide the least risk of blood contamination and complications but entail huge expenses for the common Filipino.

“With proper treatment and care, persons with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders need not suffer much. They may live normal lives and can become productive contributors to society,” Poe said.

She also proposed the creation of a small council composed of a Department of Health representative, medical practitioner specializing in hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, and representative from an organization of patients or persons suffering from the disorder.

The council shall cause continuing studies and researches for various treatments, detection, and approaches to deal with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News