Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP)

The Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) started as a Department of Health

(DOH) – Preventive Nephrology Project (PNP) in June 1984, with the National Kidney and
Transplant Institute (NKTI) as the main implementing agency. The implementation of the project
then was mainly on the screening for urine abnormality among the elementary public school
children, nationwide. PNP screened around six million public elementary school children out of
which 1.3 million (24%) were found with abnormal or signifcant results.
PNP lasted from January 1994 toDecember 1999. Towards the latter part of 1999,
planning for the redirection of the PNP was done. In January 2000, the Preventive Nephrology
Project was renamed Renal Disease Control Program through a Memorandum, No. 67-D s. 2000
from the Department of Health (DOH). REDCOP implements different projects/activities to
cover all the levels of kidney disese prevention of death of ESRD patients through
transplantation and organ donation.
Vision: To be lead office in the prevention and control of kidney disease and end-stage renal
disease (ESRD) through a comprehensive public health program and integrated approach to
renal disease management
Mission: To reduce the morbidity and mortality from kidney disease and end-stage renal disease
through a strong advocacy campaign, extensive information drive, training and public education,
research, service and quality assurance
Goal: healthy and empowered Filipinos, with reduced morbidity and mortality from kidney
disease and end-stage renal disease, in a society with an established and modern health system
that can be effieciently and effctively address current and emerging problems.
The goals of the program are as follows:
1. To conduct researches/studies that will establish the true incidence of existing renal
problems and its sequete in the country
2. To assist the existing health faciloties, both local and national through:
 Conduct training on nephrology, urology, and related specialities to enhance the
expertise of medical practitioners and related professions.
 Facilitation of sourcing out of funds for the development and upgrading of
manpower, equipment, etc.
 Internal and external quality assurance
3. To formulate guidelines and protocols on the proper implementation of the different
levels of prevention and care of renal disease, for use of medical practitioners and other
related professions.
4. To give recommendation to lawmakers for health policy development, funding assistance
and implementation.
5. To assist in the development of dialysis and transplant centers/units in strategic locations
all over the Philippines
 6. To establish an efficient and effective networking system with other progress and
agencies, both GOs and NGOs.
Kidney disease
 Chronic glomerulonephritis
 Diabetic kidney diease
 Hypertensive kidney disease
 Chronic and repeated kidmey infection (pyelonephritis
 These often lead to End-Stage Renal
 Diseas (ESRD) due to the inability to recognoze them in the early stage
The common cause of ESRD in the Philippines
Chronic Glomerulonephritis (CGN) used to be the most common cause of ESRD in third
world countries including the Philippines. It usually afflicts children, adolescents and young
adults in their productive years. Children and young adults with latent glomeruonephritis can
escape detection for months or years, causing the condition to progress to a chronic state. Based
on the statistics of the Philippine Renal Diseases Registry (PRDR) of the Department of Health
(DOH) – National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) – Renal Disease Control Program
(REDCOP), the leading cause now of ESRD is complications in the kidney from diabetes
mellitus. Second to diabetes is CGN and third is complications in the kidney from hytertension.
Some of the signs of latent kidney disease
Latent disease implies that there are no overt or outward manifestations or clinical signs
and/or symptom, hence the patient would usually not seek medical consultations. The person
would look or feel normal but when the urine is examined it will reveal abnormal finding/s. The
only means to detect the presence of such kidney problems in through routine urinalysis
These kisney are diseases preventable
These disease are potentially preventable if diagnosed early course of illness, avoiding
the need for expensive ESRD treatment such as dialysis and tranpslantation.
This is how to prevent kidney disease
Since there are various casuse of kidney disease, the most important step is early
recognition of the causes and prevention of the causes. To do this we should have regular check-
ups with the doctor and at least a yearly urine examination. Since the leading causes now of
ESRD are complications of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, control and prevention of high
blood sugar for diabetics and high blood pressure for hypertensives are very important to prevent
or delay the development of kidney problems that usually lead to end stage kidney failure.
It is important to donate an organ or tissue
Thousands of Filipinos die every year from organ failure and the lack of organ donors.
Many lives can be saved if more Filipinos will donate a part of themselves. The survical rate of
organ transplant is quite encouraging.
Data gathered by the National Kidney and Transplant institute (NKTI) show that the
survival rates for kidney transplant during the first year were registered at 90-95% for living
related donors and about 80-85% for diseased organ donors. These rates are comparable with the
survival rates of similar transplants is other parts of the world. New drugs, iproved surgical
techniques and a deep commitment of today’s team of health care professionals help make
transplants safer and more successful.
The Human Organ Preservation Effort (HOPE) is a program of the National Kidney and
Transplant Institutes (NKTI) that coordiates organ donation. The Human Organ Preservation
Effort (HOPE) of the NKTI, was created specifically for the retrieval, preservation, and
allocation of organs and tissues for clinical transplantation. The transplant coordinations are on
the call 24 hours a day to receive and respond to referrals.
Becoming a donor is a personal and emotional decision, but it may help you to:
 Talk with your family
 Speak with your friends
 Ask your physicians for information
 Consult a member of the clergy
Why is the organ donor card important
RA 7170, the Organ Donation Act of 1991, legalizes this thru the organ donor card.
In case of a brain dead patient, the following legal requirements must be met before
retrieval surgery isundertaken:
 Declaration of brain death by the patient’s neurologist, neurosurgeon , or attending
physician; and
 Consent for donation from the next of kin, in the absence of a donor card
Note: brain death means the brain is no longer fucntioning and there is no more chance of
recovery.
Organ donation already in driver’s license?
Th eorgan donor card has been incorporated in all driver’s licenses. It states that the
driver has the intention to become an organ and tissue donor in the event of his/her death. This
type of license may make it uncessary to carry a separate organ donor card.
How does one accomplish the organ donor card?
 Print or type your name
  Indicate whether you want to donate all organs ir tissues or only those organs or tissues
you have listed
 Sign your name in the presence of two witnesses (prefeably the next of kin) Request them
to sign the card
Who are qualified to become an organ and tissue donor?
Anyone who is 18 years or older may become an organ donor when he or she does. A
minor may become an organ donor with his or her parent’s consent.
If one wishes to donate his/her organ or tissue, he/she should accomplish an organ
donor’s card and inform the spouse or immediate family about his/her decision.
Neither age nor physical history should stop you from signing an organ donor’s card. The
Transplant Team will decide at the time of donation whether the organs or tissue are useful.
What’s involved in transplant surgery?
Recipients are chosen whose tissue type and blood type are most compatible with those
of the donors. A meticulous search is conducted to find the most suitable recipient.
Who pays for a transplantoperation?
The donor family does not pay for any transplant operation. It is usually paid by teh
recipient. If he is a service patient, part of the expenses is shouldered by the government. The
transplant recipients health insurance policy may cover the cost of the transplant.
Donor Care
Donors are assured of the same high quality of medical treatment that non-donors
receive. Medical personnel follow strict guidelines before death can be pronounced and the
donor’s organ and tissue removed.
Organ and tissue donation saves lives!
You can help make the donor program
 Decide to become a donor successful if you:
 Encourage others to become donors
 Complete and carry this organ donor card.