The City Government of Iloilo has initiated the establishment of the Iloilo City Hospital to meet the growing needs for accessible and affordable healthcare to the Ilonggos as highlighted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 100-bed hospital will be constructed in Brgy. San Pedro, Molo on a lot overlooking Iloilo River Esplanade 2. It will be Iloilo city's eleventh hospital with 8 private hospitals and 2 public hospitals that cater to patients from all over Panay Island.
"This is one of our priorities to really bring much improved public health service to the Ilonggos, and to also help decongest the private hospitals of patients coming from the city," Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said.
Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, the Focal person for COVID-19 said that the permit for the construction of the medical facility was already approved by the DOH. Other documents were being arranged for biding then the construction of the said facility will follow.
"The Iloilo City Hospital will be a Departmentalized Hospital. It will be a Level 2 Hospital just like the private and public hospitals. It will house OB-Gyne, Surgery, Pedia, and Internal Medicine clinics. It will be located near the Molecular Laboratory," he stressed.
"If we base it on our city residents, there are actually enough beds on the 10 hospitals located in Iloilo City. However, patients from the rest of the provinces are being referred here because of the lack of facilities in the provincial hospitals," added Fortuna.
The Iloilo City Hospital is expected to be finished within 2 and a half years.