By Brian Campued
Recognizing the need for more hospital facilities nationwide that offer specialized care for Filipinos, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday announced plans to establish additional specialty centers before his term ends in 2028.
During the inauguration of the Brain and Spine Center of the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, the President noted the country’s experience handling the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed weaknesses in the health care system, particularly the lack of specialized medical services.
“Ito ‘yung polisiya na itinaguyod natin noong ako ay umupo bilang Pangulo,” Marcos Jr. said, reiterating his earlier instruction to the Department of Health (DOH) to establish specialty centers outside Metro Manila to cater to patients needing urgent medical attention.
“So all of this is kailangan talaga natin at patuloy nating ginagawa, at nagpapatayo tayo. As of now, we are targeting 349 specialty centers by the time I leave office in 2028,” the President added.
In 2023, the Chief Executive signed Republic Act 11959, institutionalizing the establishment of specialty and healthcare centers in DOH hospitals in every region and in government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) specialty hospitals.
These facilities will prioritize cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care, burn care, orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology, eye care, and ear, nose, and throat care.
As part of the administration’s efforts to expand health care infrastructure across the country and bring advanced medical services closer to Filipinos in the provinces, Marcos Jr. said the newly inaugurated Brain and Spine Center at the CVMC would benefit not only the residents of Cagayan Valley but also nearby provinces in northern Luzon.
The three-story facility is equipped with 30 beds and two operating room theaters and an acute stroke unit, a neurosurgery complex, a neurophysiology unit, and advanced diagnostic services, aimed at improving access to specialized brain and spine treatment outside Metro Manila.
During the event, government officials also led the groundbreaking of a four-storey Heart, Lung, Renal Care, and Kidney Transplant Center within the CVMC compound.
Construction of the facility is expected to begin in June 2026 and is targeted for completion by June 2027.
Once operational, the specialty center will provide advanced cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and transplant services in the region—reducing the need for patients to be referred to Metro Manila hospitals and improving access to quality health care for indigent and underserved patients.
In his keynote speech, President Marcos Jr. underscored the administration’s commitment to enhancing the country’s health care system by expanding medical packages offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), including dialysis coverage, cancer treatment, and maternal and child care support.
He also highlighted the DOH’s zero balance billing policy, helping eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for patients availing public health services.
He likewise assured the public that the government would continue implementing health programs and remain open to suggestions from communities and health care workers to further improve the delivery of services.
“Kaya asahan ninyo na ipapagpatuloy namin lahat ng programa para sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan… Kami naman ay nakikinig at sabihan niyo kami. Kung kaya namin gawin at magpapaganda talaga doon sa sistema, gagawin po natin. ‘Yun lang po. Kaya po na tayo nandito,” President Marcos Jr. said.
-jpv
