Residents of Ilocos Sur province no longer need to travel far to seek medical treatment as the newly upgraded Ilocos Sur Medical Center (ISMC) in Candon City is ready to cater to more patients with new facilities inaugurated on Tuesday.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the formal inauguration of the Ilocos Sur Medical Center and blessing of its new dialysis center, which is equipped with 14 dialysis machines, and infectious disease building for infection control.

In a media interview, Dr. Angel Trinidad, medical center chief of Ilocos Sur Medical Center, said the Level II hospital has a 490-strong workforce and a 200-bed capacity.

The facility serves not only residents of Ilocos Sur but also patients from neighboring provinces.

“Kasama sa mga serbisyo ng ISMC ay ang magbigay ng specialized health services dito mismo sa Ilocos Sur para hindi na tayo kailangan magbiyahe papunta sa La Union o Ilocos Norte (ISMC offers specialized health services here in Ilocos Sur so that patients need not travel to La Union or Ilocos Norte),” Trinidad said.

Funded directly by the Department of Health, ISMC has been offering a variety of healthcare services since its opening in 2022. These include intensive care unit (ICU) services, surgical procedures, obstetrics and gynecology services, and a pediatric ICU.

Soon, the center plans to have its own cardiology and pulmonary specialty center.

ISMC is also designed to become a training center for aspiring medical and health professionals specializing in the treatment of heart, lung, and kidney diseases.

Araneta-Marcos was in Ilocos Sur to lead her Lab-for-All caravan, which aims to bring various government services closer to people in one venue. (PNA)