Poverty: One of the Causes of Death of Dialysis Patients
“Bawal Magkasakit” (It is forbidden to get sick). You can see this words on Ad campaign billboards by the DOH, the Philippines’ national health agency, and on most of their TV Ads. This rings true for most Filipinos, and is a bitter fact among us dialysis patients. It’s not news anymore to hear that a fellow patient died because of the lack of means to sustain treatment. This is quite depressing, though all I can do is contemplate on the matter.
Dialysis treatment, or most medical conditions for that matter, is not fully subsidized here in the Philippines. Although government agencies like Philhealth and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) provides assistance and financial aid to patients, it still falls short on dialysis patients’ financial needs. Some of my fellow patients on the clinic where I go cut on their treatment frequency. Instead of following the prescribed twice a week regiment, they make it once a week just to make ends meet.
There might be no immediate effect that can be felt with this kind of regiment, but doctors say that it’s bad for the patient in the long run. I guess there’s a simple explanation as to why is this so: when your kidneys are okay, they work 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week to rid your body of harmful toxins. If you suffer kidney failure, your kidneys aren’t able to do this so you rely on dialysis to work as your kidney replacements. Having to undergo dialysis twice or thrice per week would seem inadequate in terms of efficiency compared to fully functional kidneys. How much more if you’re just taking dialysis once a week? Harmful toxins would not be properly removed from your body and excess water might accumulate and lead to edema.
But you can’t really blame these patients. I myself am aware of the reasons behind their decision. After all, for a poor patient, it’s much easier to tolerate pain and inconvenience rather than await death simply because you can’t pay for your treatment anymore. This is indeed a sad and depressing fact, but it’s a reality nonetheless. In my case, I’m fortunate enough to have a generous Aunt and Uncle that shoulders the financial needs of my treatment. But let me tell you that I’m still seeking ways to be able to help myself financially. Why? Because my relatives wouldn’t be able to support me indefinitely, that’s why.
Poverty is still a growing menace, not only for us patients, but for everybody as well. And with the Global Crunch hovering above, matters seems to look a lot bleaker. I contemplated on this matter simply because anyone could be in this situation, any moment at any time. Preparing yourself for the worst to come isn’t pessimism. For me, it’s simply bracing yourself from reality.
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Julius is a blogger and a freelance graphics artist undergoing dialysis treatment since 2003. An enthusiastic person by nature, he loves to write, blog, cook, read books, tinker around, listen to rock music, and do research.
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hi, i was recently diagnosed with kidney failure and quite at a loss as to what to do. can you enlighten me more about this and are the any support group that provide assistance to these type of people?
There are many resources that you can find in the internet for kidney failure information and education. You could try the National Kidney Foundation for a start, or you could try reading some of the articles on this blog. I’ve posted some FAQ articles and I hope it could be a help to you.
Don’t be disheartened or lose hope simply because you’ve been diagnosed with CKD. Remember, life goes on no matter what and you must strive to live each day to the fullest however and whichever things might come.
Good luck and God bless!
thanks so much for the encouragement, sir julius. that’s what i’m doing right now. reading on articles to know more about this condition.
thanks so much for the encouragement, sir julius. that’s what i am doing right now. reading on articles to know more about this condition and possible solution.
You’re most welcome. If you still need more information or have questions that I could be of help, just feel free to drop by. Thanks.
Dont we have any institution or foundation that support dialysis patients so we can get free dialysis treatment?
I dread to think of how our less fortunate kababayans, especially those in provinces where dialysis center is not existent cope with this kind of ailment. We also heard that PCSO can help, but we dont have the reply from them yet as to our application.
And you are so blessed for having aunt and uncle who support your treatment.
There are institutions that help dialysis patients, like PCSO and PHILHEALTH, lessen their treatment expenses. But a fully subsidized treatment? There’s none I could think of at the moment. Though I am hoping that the incoming government would take notice of our needs and do something about it.