New heart operating unit at Veterans hospital offers hope for war vets, dependents

The Department of National Defense (DND) inaugurated a newly constructed cardiovascular operation unit (CVOU) at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City on Thursday, July 28.

DND Undersecretary-designate Franco Nemesio Gacal led the joint blessing and inauguration of the CVOU as he lauded the VMMC management for the “improvement of access to and quality of healthcare for the Filipino people, particularly veterans and their dependents.”

“It is of utter importance that we improve all fronts in fighting against cardiovascular diseases, especially by improving our medical facilities,” Gacal said.

DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong explained that the CVOU will complement the existing Heart and Catheterization Laboratory of the VMMC.

This will cater to open-heart surgery requirements of more VMMC beneficiaries.

Previously, veterans with heart ailments in need of complex procedures were transferred to other infirmaries, with the veterans having to shoulder the cost of the procedures themselves.

With the launching of the fully-equipped CVOU, the VMMC’s surgeons and cardiologists will be able to readily carry out cardiovascular procedures for its patients, Andolong noted.

Gacal assured the VMMC that the DND will continue to support the institution in improving the capacity of its dedicated medical staff and modernizing its facilities and equipment to be at par with the best hospitals in the country.