VIGAN CITY (PIA) - The Ilocos Sur Medical Center (ISMC) in Candon City, Ilocos Sur has opened its doors to serve the public after being given permission to operate as an infirmary-level facility with a 15-bed capacity.

The ISMC now caters to various outpatient services, and emergency room cases, and admits mild cases such as hypertension and respiratory infections, according to ISMC Chief Dr. Angel Trinidad III.

“ISMC also offers multi-specialty consultation for free which includes general pediatrics, internal medicine, and sub-specialty clinics such as gastroenterology, neurology, rheumatology, pulmonology, cardiology, along with Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT), urology, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology,” Dr. Trinidad said in a phone interview on Friday.

Pregnant women may also be accommodated as the ISMC has a birthing facility.

Dr. Trinidad added that all consultations are currently free of charge, however, radiologic and laboratory services will be charged depending on the patient's socioeconomic status, which will be evaluated by the hospital's social worker.

To provide E-Konsulta packages, the hospital is also working to be accredited by PhilHealth.

This November, ISMC aims to open as a Level 1 hospital with a 75-bed capacity and shall offer more healthcare services as it transitions to Level 2 and 3 categories once it completes all necessary requirements for its grand opening in the next year/s to come. 

This will be a 500-bed capacity and will serve patients from Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Abra, according to Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco.

“This facility will also help decongest the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) in San Fernando City, La Union and other health facilities, as patients needing specialty medical services will easily receive the medical assistance they need, including better and improved health services. It will soon be at par with the best hospitals in the country,” Dr. Sydiongco said in her message during the soft opening on October 7.

A look at the outpatient department of the Ilocos Sur Medical Center in Candon City, Ilocos Sur. (Photos by the DPWH)

Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Sur Second District Representative Kristine Singson-Meehan then expressed her sincerest gratitude to the DOH, DPWH, the city government of Candon, employees of the ISMC and the district office of Deputy Speaker Singson, and her colleagues in the House of Representatives for the successful opening of the hospital.

“ISMC will ensure the continuity of health programs and services in our region and it is also designed to become a training center for aspiring medical and health professionals specializing in the treatment of heart, lung, and kidney diseases,” Representative Singson said.

Candon City Mayor Eric Singson said one of the main purposes of the ISMC is to help residents avail all healthcare services without the need to travel to far tertiary-level hospitals in Metro Manila or in other provinces.

“This is in consonance also with the wish of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. na maipa-probinsya ang mga specialty hospitals o mga upgraded na ospital para hindi na kailangan pang lumuwas sa malayo ang mga residente upang magpagamot. Aside from this, we will also employ many workers mula sa mga utility workers to health professionals. We shall have no less than 500 employees by the time ISMC reaches tertiary level,” Mayor Singson said.

According to the DPWH, this multi-year project's construction started in 2018 and has already built the two-story Radiology building, the generator and its housing, the two-story Emergency Room and Outpatient Department building, Administrative, Rehabilitation, and Dialysis buildings.

ISMC is located at Heroes Bypass Road, Barangay Parioc Primero in Candon City and can be contacted at 0916 497 6615 and e-mail via ilocossurmedicalcenter@gmail.com or visit their official Facebook page via facebook.com/ilocossurmedicalcenter. (JCR/JPD/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)