Patients in Iloilo who need regular dialysis treatment may soon have easier access to life-saving care after the provincial government launched a major healthcare initiative in partnership with the private sector. The program aims to expand renal care services across government hospitals so patients can receive treatment closer to their communities.
The Iloilo provincial government formally introduced the Iloilo Province Dialysis Project on March 7, establishing a public-private partnership with Healthway Qualimed Hospital Iloilo, a medical facility operating under Ayala Corp.’s AC Health. Through the collaboration, the private partner will invest P200 million to establish and operate dialysis centers across multiple government hospitals in the province.
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Dialysis Centers Across Provincial Hospitals
Under the agreement, 13 dialysis centers will be constructed and operated in 12 district hospitals as well as the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town. Officials said the initiative is intended to address a significant healthcare need in the province, where thousands of residents require ongoing renal treatment.
Provincial officials noted that about 50,000 patients in Iloilo require renal care, many of whom currently travel to Iloilo City for dialysis sessions. This situation often leads to additional transportation expenses and logistical challenges for patients and their families.
“We need our partners in the private sector because that is the only way we can address our limitations in budget and in processes. We are very thankful for this modality. Our PPP with the Ayala Family is a way forward as this is, hopefully, the beginning of many partnerships to come,” Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said.
The project will be implemented in two phases. The initial stage will see the establishment of seven dialysis centers, while six additional centers will be developed in the second phase. The rollout will depend on hospital readiness and the availability of essential utilities needed to support hemodialysis operations.
Improving Access to Kidney Care
The initiative involves the interior fit-out, installation, operation and maintenance of hemodialysis facilities through a lease agreement between the provincial government and Panay Medical Ventures Inc., the company operating Healthway Qualimed Hospital Iloilo.
Healthway Medical Network President Jet Peeters emphasized that the goal of the project is to make specialized kidney treatment more accessible to communities throughout the province.
“We are united in one purpose, and that is advancing the health and well-being, and overcoming the challenges faced by the people of Iloilo with chronic kidney deficiencies. Our collective goal is to improve the patients’ quality of life,” Peeters said.
“At Healthway, our patients are at the heart of what we do. We look forward to bringing kidney care to every community in this province,” he added.
The dialysis program stems from a public-private partnership agreement signed on November 25, 2025, marking a collaboration between the Iloilo provincial government and Panay Medical Ventures Inc. to strengthen healthcare services in the province.
Beyond dialysis services, provincial leaders also indicated that similar partnerships could be explored in the future for specialized medical care, particularly in cancer treatment and cardiovascular services.
For residents across Iloilo, the project could significantly reduce the burden of traveling long distances for dialysis treatment. By bringing services closer to local hospitals, the initiative is expected to ease financial strain on patients and families while improving access to essential healthcare for communities throughout the province.
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