Republic ofthe Philippines

Department of Health
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

January 22, 2022

DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
No. 2022 - 0025

OF
TO: ALL __UNDERSECRETARIES; _ASSISTANT__SECRETARIES;

AND
DIRECTOR: F TER HEALTH DEVELOPMENT.
BUREAUS, AND SERVICES: MINISTER OF HEALTH -
BANGSAMORO _AUTONOMOUS REGION _IN__MUSLIM
(MOH-BARMM); EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SPECIALTY
HOSPITALS: MEDICAL CENTER CHIEF AND CHIEF OF

LGU
AND
HEALTH FACILITIES

DOH,
SUBJECT: Reiteration_of the Policies to Ensure Adequacy of Hemodialysis
Units for
COVID-19 Pati

PRIVATE
HOSPITAL
The exponential increase in COVID-19 cases in the past weeks has greatly affected

HOSPITALS
patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The limited number of HD facilities catering to
COVID-19 patients and the decreased number of Health Care Workers rendering dialysis
services are the main reasons for the decrease in
access to quality and safe HD services.

In view of this, the DOH reiterates the Department Memorandum (DM) 2021-0345,
Department Circular (DC) 2020-0196, and DM No. 2020-0162, to ensure the continuity of
dialysis operations in hospital-based and stand-alone hemodialysis clinics during the
COVID-19 pandemic and increase access to safe and quality dialysis services for persons
needing renal replacement therapy:

A. DOH hospitals especially those identified in Department Order No. 2021-0001 as

Specialty Centers for Renal Care shall:
1. Operate their hemodialysis centers 24/7 (24 hours, Monday-Sunday);
2. Implement a skeletal workforce when necessary to support continuous
operations; and
3. Facilitate the licensing requirements for additional hemodialysis chairs by:
a. Procuring the required equipment and supplies;
b. Negotiating with the service provider if the HD facility is outsourced
or on public-private partnership.

B. All private and public licensed Hemodialysis facilities, whether hospital-based or

Stand-alone/Free-standing HD facilities shall:
1. Allocate dialysis machines intended for COVID
patients;
2. Operate their hemodialysis centers 24/7 (24 hours, Monday-Sunday); and
3. Ensure adequate staffing complement (ie implementation of skeletal
workforce as necessary) to support continuous operations.

C. Centers for Health Development (CHDs) shall:

1. Monitor the compliance of private and public hemodialysis facilities to DC
No. 2020-0162 entitled, “Directive for the Continuous Operations of Dialysis
Facilities in the Philippines During the Enhanced Community Quarantine in

Building # 1, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, 1003 Manila * Trunkline: 651-7800 local 1113, 1108, 1125
Directline: 7119502; Telefax: (632) 7431829, 7431786 * URL: http://www.doh.gov.ph
; E-mail: fidugue@doh gov ph
 light of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) Outbreak” and DM No.
2020-0168 entitled, “Interim Guidelines for Dialysis Centers Catering to
Suspect, Probable, and Confirmed COVID-19 Cases”;
2. Update the inventory of hospital-based and stand-alone/free-standing HD
facilities in the province/ Highly Urbanized City;
bo Conduct root cause study for facilities that stopped its operations;
HD

4. Provide assistance to both public and private hemodialysis facilities in

planning for dialysis requirements; and
5. Assist the Local Government Units (LGUs) in properly referring patients to
stand-alone/free-standing or hospital-based facilities.
HD

For your information and strict compliance.

By Authority of the Secretary of Health

Digitally signed by David Lilibeth Caoili
Date: 2022.01.22 19:42:37 +08'00'

LILIBETH C. DAVID, MD, MPH, MPM, CESO I

Undersecretary of Health
Health Facilities and Infrastructure Development Team