Rep Zaldy Co celebrates NKTI hemodialysis building groundbreaking

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for a new 13-storey Hemodialysis Building at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) on Wednesday, alongside House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Co highlighted that kidney disease is one of the most pressing health issues in the country, noting that over half of those seeking assistance during his party's People's Day events have kidney problems.

NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rosemarie Liquete said chronic kidney disease is now the 7th cause of mortality in the Philippines and noted a nearly 42 percent annual increase in the number of dialysis patients.

The new Mega Hemodialysis Legacy Building will cater primarily to patients in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces, equipped with 200 state-of-the-art hemodialysis machines for complex cases and emergency care, and is expected to be completed within President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term.

Romualdez emphasized that the facility will provide modern healthcare and quality services to millions of Filipinos suffering from kidney ailments, reducing travel and financial burdens for patients.