28/06/2026
Every time I read about kidney disease and dialysis, I canāt help but think of my father.
Watching someone you love go through dialysis changes the way you look at health. You see the physical exhaustion, the emotional burden, the financial strain, and the sacrifices made not only by the patient but by the entire family.
Thatās why Dr. Tony Leachonās message that dialysis is often a sign of neglect resonates deeply with me.
I agree that our healthcare system has a bigger role to playāimproving access to preventive care, early screening, public education, and affordable treatment. Prevention should never be a privilege reserved for a few.
But while we continue to advocate for better healthcare policies, we must also recognize something equally important:
Our daily choices matter.
Many chronic diseases donāt develop overnight. They are often the result of years of unmanaged high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, inadequate sleep, chronic stress, and delayed medical check-ups.
The encouraging part is that many of these risk factors can be reduced.
We may not control our genetics or every circumstance in life, but we can choose to:
⢠Know our blood pressure and blood sugar.
⢠Nourish our bodies with balanced nutrition.
⢠Stay physically active in ways we enjoy.
⢠Prioritize sleep and recovery.
⢠Seek medical advice before symptoms become serious.
Advocating for ourselves is one of the greatest forms of self-care.
Letās continue pushing for a healthcare system that prioritizes prevention. At the same time, letās not underestimate the power of the choices we make every single day.
Because healthy aging isnāt just about living longerāitās about preserving the strength, independence, and quality of life to enjoy the years ahead.
If my fatherās journey taught me anything, itās this:
The best time to protect our kidneysāand our healthāis long before disease forces us to.
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š Dialysis: A Symptom of Neglect
President Marcos recently emphasized the need to expand services for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, noting that over 11% of Filipinos suffer from CKD.
But hereās the deeper truth: the mushrooming of dialysis centers is not progress ā itās a warning sign. It reflects the failure to control diabetes and hypertension, the two leading causes of kidney failure.
š PhilHealth spends ā±17 billion annually on dialysis.
š Without prevention, this cost will only skyrocket.
š Dialysis is not the solution ā prevention is.
What we need is:
⢠Stronger primary care and early detection.
⢠Nationwide campaigns on healthy living.
⢠Real investment in PhilHealth reforms and preventive programs.
Prevent Dialysis. Protect Lives.
Diabetes and hypertension are silent epidemics. They lead thousands to dialysis every year ā a burden that could be prevented with strong government action.
This is not just a medical issue. It is a matter of responsibility.
⢠DEPED & CHED: Teach nutrition and health literacy in schools.
⢠DILG & LGUs: Build parks, bike lanes, and safe spaces for exercise.
⢠DOH & FDA: Enforce calorie counters, food labeling, and healthier food standards.
Other countries have shown the way ā with food labeling laws, school-based prevention programs, and community parks policies that reduce diabetes and hypertension.
The Philippines must act now. Prevention is cheaper than dialysis. Prevention saves lives. Prevention is justice.
Dialysis should not be the default future for Filipinos. Prevention is cheaper, kinder, and more just.
Tony Leachon