Samar island, the third largest island in the country, is on its way to having its very own tertiary government hospital.

This, after House Bill (HB) No.1153 or the Act establishing the Samar Island Medical Center and appropriating funds therefor was approved by the Committee on Health headed by Rep. Angelina Tan of Quezon during a virtual hearing Wednesday.

Author Tingog Sinirangan Party-List Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, in her sponsorship speech, explained just how urgent the need is for Samarnons to have an accessible Level 3 government hospital.

"The island of Samar is the third largest island in the country and is also home to three provinces--Northern Samar, (Western) Samar, and Eastern Samar--and to a population of more than two million residents. However there is not a single tertiary government hospital on the island," Romualdez said.

"Patients and their families have to travel four to five hours from Northern Samar, three to four hours from Eastern Samar, and two to three hours from Samar just to get to the nearest government tertiary hospital located in Tacloban (Leyte). With these three provinces already having one of the highest poverty incidence in the country, the availability of accessible and affordable hospital care is one of its most pressing needs," she explained.

Level 3 or tertiary government hospitals are the largest types of hospitals and have a wider range of medical and surgical capacities compared to Level 1 or 2 hospitals. They can provide more comprehensive patient care and can handle the more serious cases.

Under HB No.1153, a tertiary hospital under the control, supervision, and management of the Department of Health (DOH) in the first-class city of Calbayog, Samar will be erected and named the Samar Island Medical Center.

Director Minerva Molon of DOH Region VIII supported the measure, calling it "laudable in intent and purpose."

"The prospective beneficiaries for the Samar Island Medical Center will extend to the three provinces of Western Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, including the cities of Catbalogan and Borongan," she said.

Moreover, the proposed hospital will help improve the lopsided doctor-to-patient ratio on the island, which according to Molon stands at 1:10,337. She said the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a ratio of 1:1,000.

According to Roderick Napulan of the DOH central office, the Health Facility Development Bureau's position paper on HB No.1153 acknowledges the necessity of the Samar Island Medical Center.

Despite this, Napulan noted that there's a "need to consider the healthcare provider network in the area before we can go ahead with construction of a new hospital."

Samar 1st district Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento thanked the author and the resource persons following the bill's approval as he cited the hospital's potential benefit to his constituents.

"If ever this would be given to us, it's going to be a big help. Rest assured that the help coming from the national government would be truly valued by the Samarnons. And we want to contribute as well to the development of this country," he said.