DAVAO CITY (PIA) – The specialists from the Philippine Society of Nephrology – Mindanao Chapter reported that unprescribed medication is seen as among the top contributors to kidney diseases among their patients.

This is besides unhealthy lifestyle, family history, and underlying health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, Dr. Floin Quibo Galdavores said during their guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Dabaw on Monday (March 6, 2023).

Dr. Galdavores has called out the rampant practice of taking medications without prescriptions from a doctor.

“Very common ito, ‘yung pag-inom og mga tambal nga dili gina-prescribe (taking medicines not prescribed)… basta naay bation nga sakit sa lawas mo-inom dayon og mga pain reliever (whenever they feel pain, they would right away take pain relievers),” she said.

“We have many patients not diabetic, not hypertensive, but are taking not kidney-friendly medicines and pain relievers, who have developed kidney problems,” she cited.

Dr. Galdavores bared that 3.5 per cent of the total death in the Philippines, is due to Chronic Kidney disease.

She also said that in 2016, there were around 36,000 patients undergoing kidney dialysis, and it was estimated to increase by around 15% per year.

“From the past decades up to now, there’s 400 per cent increase in the number of dialysis patients. So if you observed, dialysis centers are spreading like mushrooms, because there’s increase in demand,” she added.

Dr. Pol Baulos, on the other hand, bared that Davao City ranked third last year in terms of the number of Chronic Kidney disease patients in the country.

Dr. Galdavores reiterated to the public to consult doctors first before taking any medications, and she strongly discouraged self-medications.

She also warned the public about taking food supplements and resorting to herbal medications whenever sick, saying that they also have harmful effects on one’s kidneys.

“We do not recommend food supplement or any herbal supplement… Madami na kaming cases na nagda-dialysis, tumataas ang crea (creatinine) because of these supplements. Kasi kung basahin mo naman dyan sa supplement, no approved therapeutic claims,” she said. (PIA-XI/Anton S. Oblianda)