QC dialysis center for COVID patients to open October 19

The Quezon City government is scheduled to open its first dialysis center dedicated to COVID-19 patients on Monday, 19 October 2020, with waived dialysis fees for city residents.

In an emailed statement, the QC government said the facility -- Quezon City General Hospital and Medical Center (QCGHMC) will be housed at the hospital's extension building where four machines are available for dialysis patients.

The facility, which secured its accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, October 16, will be able to accommodate up to 12 patients a day, with no dialysis fees for all COVID-19 patients residing in Quezon City.

"Ngayong mayroon na tayong dialysis center na solely for our COVID-19 patients, mas magiging madali na ang pagbibigay serbisyo sa kanila," said Mayor Joy Belmonte.

The city government assured that safety measures have been put in place including the installation of high-efficiency particulate air filters for air circulation, with workers required to level 4 personal protective equipment at all times.

"We know that COVID-19 is highly contagious so we included in our protocol that all consumables including tubings and dialyzer should be on a 'one time use' only," said QCGHMC director Dr. Josephine Sabando.

The Philippines has so far recorded a total of 354,338 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday, October 17, 2020. This includes 295,312 recoveries, and 66,03 deaths. —LBG, GMA News