The Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH) here will continue to upgrade its facilities to provide quality medical care to its patients.

Under Ilocos Norte’s 20 percent development fund this year, about PHP47.1 million has been reprogrammed for the procurement of various medical equipment, said provincial board member Donald Nicolas, chair of the committee on appropriations on Monday following the approval of a legislative measure making use of the amount to improve its facilities.

Dr. Rogelio Balbag, executive director of the hospital management council, said “magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will soon be available at the provincial hospital including a dialysis machine for the treatment of patients.”

“The provincial hospital is also looking for a radiology technologist which is lacking as of the moment,” Balbag added.

As one of the priority programs of the Ilocos Norte government, all public hospitals in the province are being upgraded to improve the delivery of basic health care to the Ilocanos.

At the provincial hospital, more than PHP78.8 million has been allocated for the construction of a new building, as well as the improvement of its existing facilities.

A PHP20-million oxygen generator and refilling plant were also established at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to supply medical oxygen to government hospitals and even to district hospitals and nearby medical centers outside the province.

Aside from the oxygen plant, other health infrastructure development and upgrading of health facilities were also implemented at the provincial hospital to make it at par with other public hospitals in the country.

Included in the infrastructure projects at the provincial hospital are the computerized tomography (CT) scan building, renovation of the intensive care unit room, construction of placenta pit, sewerage system, improvement of the dialysis center and operating room complex and the rehabilitation of comfort rooms, among others. (PNA)