PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. called on the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) to become a “catalyst” of Universal Health Care (UHC) by helping reduce kidney disease-related fatalities nationwide.
In a speech at the 40th Founding Anniversary of NKTI on Monday, Marcos said the health facility should become a model for other health facilities in making its quality service accessible to more people through “innovative solutions.”
“The ultimate goal is to lower the deaths and disabilities associated with kidney disease and kidney failure, especially for those who are not able to access dialysis treatment due to the high cost,” Marcos said.
“That’s why I am very happy to see that your institution has always adhered to the highest standards of quality patient care by providing affordable and timely diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation to your patients,” he added.
Among the new projects of NKTI is its New Hospital Integrated Management System (NHIMS), which will “automate the hospital’s services and enable the institute to reach out to more patients.”
Marcos lauded the contribution of NKTI since it was established during the administration of his late father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr., as a 2-ward 50-bed facility.
NKTI is now a 5-building complex with 383 beds, and provides state-of-the-art medical care.
“Since its inception in 1983, almost 400,000 patients have been given quality renal care, including transplants, dialysis, and treatment sessions— thanks to the men and women of NKTI,” Marcos said.
The facility, he pointed out, also became one of the first few government hospitals, which handled Covid-19 cases, during the onset of the pandemic.
Thus, he noted, its personnel should be lauded for their contribution in the country’s Covid-response.
“NKTI served a central—as a central focus for our pandemic response and the sacrifices that were made by the men and women of NKTI have not gone unnoticed by a grateful nation,” Marcos said.