MANILA, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines recently inaugurated its first charity bone marrow transplant unit at a hospital in its capital, offering free treatment for patients who would otherwise pay millions of pesos for the procedure, according to local media reports.
The new facility has four beds, including three dedicated to charity patients who will receive bone marrow transplants without paying for the procedure, medicines or doctors' professional fees. The unit is expected to begin treating patients later this year.
According to the local hospital, bone marrow transplantation is used to treat leukemia and other serious blood disorders and cancers. The procedure typically costs between 2 million and 5 million pesos (about 81,090 U.S. dollars), making it unaffordable for many Filipino patients.
Hospital officials said around 25 patients are already waiting for treatment. They also urged the public to support the program by donating blood, noting that the country continues to face a shortage of bone marrow transplant donors. ■