Kidney transplant institute in Davao to open soon with help from Poland

His Excellency Jarosław Szcepankiewicz, Poland’s Ambassador to the Philippines paid a courtesy call to Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte during the former’s visit to Davao last May 18, 2023. The Polish envoy was joined by the CEO of OneMark Engineering Technologies Mr. Mark Ryan Juanitas, Mr. Bartek Wasiewski, Mr. Miguel Santos, and former Davao SPMC Chief Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega, all with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, as Head, Business Development Manager and Medical Adviser, respectively.

The opening of a kidney transplant institute in Davao, which will be among the most advanced in the country, was foremost in the discussion. Dr. Vega added that the center will offer specialty care to patients in Davao and those in the Mindanao region.

The technologies offered by the Polish government to Davao also include water management solutions (from Polish Companies Symbiona and Nanoseen) which the city can specifically apply to our septage management system. In addition, Smart City Solutions (from Polish companies LUG Lighting and Seedia) is also in the offing. On the latter, Mayor Duterte remarked that this is crucial for the city’s transportation modernization and government services digitalization for the benefit of the Dabawenyos.

During the exchange, Ambassador Szcepankiewicz remarked that Polish technology is approved and promoted worldwide. There is a pending proposal for a Davao City Hospital (from ALVO Medical Solutions and OneMark Engineering) to benefit residents and nearby regions and localities.

His Excellency Jarosław Szcepankiewicz previously paid a courtesy call to Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte last November 24-26, 2022 when he was also in the city to attend the Polish Film Festival at the Cinematheque Center Davao. As this is his second time visiting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to closer Davao-Poland cooperation, especially in technology transfer, start-ups and digitalization, hospital technology, construction, and research and development.

The Philippines maintains an embassy in Warsaw and honorary consulates in Poznań and Wrocław, while Poland maintains an embassy in Manila. Poland also maintains honorary consulates in San Fernando, Cebu City, and General Santos.