Cebu City State-Run Hospital Opens 2nd CathLab, Neurological Ward

The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), the biggest state-run hospital in Cebu City, opened on Saturday its second Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (CathLab) and a new neurosurgical ward.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, who led the inauguration ceremony, said CathLab’s launch aimed to make healthcare services more accessible to the public, consistent with the healthcare agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

VSMMC chief Gerardo Aquino Jr. said the opening of the second CathLab will enable the hospital to cater to more cardiac services.

Among these cardiac services are coronary angiograms, angioplasties, pacemaker insertions, and to conduct hemodynamic studies.

The ceremony was also graced by Cebu City Reps. Bebot Abellanosa (South District) and Raul del Mar (North District), Cebu Reps. Benhur Salimbangon (4th District) and Jonas Cortes (6th District), Cordova Mayor Therese Sitoy-Cho, and Department of Health (DOH) 7 Assistant Director Sophia Mancao.

Aquino said the VSMMC’s first CathLab, which opened in 2006, was funded by the Dutch government through a program under its Official Development Aid that extended a grant to the DOH for medical equipment to upgrade heart-lung centers in the country.

Aquino also recognized Rep. Del Mar, author of the law increasing VSMMC’s bed cabacity from 400 to 800 and then to 1,200.

Dr. Wyben Briones, head of the new neurosurgical ward, said they dedicate the ward to the late Dr. Benigno Aldana Jr., founder of the Department of Neurosurgery, who rendered voluntary service to VSMMC patients for 53 years.

”We have the necessary medical equipment to do what they can do in New York and we are giving these kinds of service already to our countrymen,” Briones said. (PNA)SCS/EB/SSC