Photo courtesy of DOH.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of patients undergoing dialysis in the Davao Region has continued to increase, reaching 6,433 as of March 25.
Data from its Disease Prevention and Control Bureau showed that most patients were undergoing hemodialysis, with 6,298 cases, while 135 were on peritoneal dialysis.
Among those receiving hemodialysis, 3,537 were male and 2,761 were female, while peritoneal dialysis patients included 76 males and 59 females.
Health officials said both treatments remove waste from the blood but differ in approach, with hemodialysis typically done in treatment centers several times a week and peritoneal dialysis performed at home on a daily basis.
Ma Theresa Bad ang, a specialist at Southern Philippines Medical Center, said the steady rise in cases was partly due to expanded coverage from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
She noted that the number of covered dialysis sessions has increased, along with the amount provided per treatment, making the service more accessible to patients.
Bad ang said kidney transplant remains a more cost-effective option in the long term, although challenges such as donor availability and public awareness persist.
She also emphasized prevention, noting that conditions such as diabetes and hypertension remain leading causes of kidney disease and should be addressed through early screening and healthier lifestyles.
