Makati City inks referral agreement with CSMC for Makatizens
The Makati City local government entered into a referral agreement with the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) on Friday, May 5, allowing the said hospital to receive patients coming from the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) who are in need of specialized care and services.
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said that with the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA), the referral of patients between the two hospitals will now be smoother and faster, giving patients more time to recover from their illnesses and receive quicker treatment.
"Our partnership with CSMC will benefit Makatizens immensely. It provides them easy access to top-tier healthcare services and a wider range of specialists. I want to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible for anyone who needs it—regardless of their ability to pay," Binay said.
She exlained that while OsMak is an ISO-certified tertiary-level hospital, it still has limitations regarding medical services on its ancillary and diagnostic services and stressed that with the new partnership, CSMC will facilitate continuity of care and ensure the best possible health outcomes for patients from OsMak.
Under the agreement, patients must first be assessed and treated at OsMak before being referred to CSMC. OsMak will then send an LOA to CSMC detailing the patient's medical needs. Makatizens can only be treated for specified medical services at CSMC and will be referred to OsMak for follow-up care.
Binay said that the agreement with CSMC reinforces the city's commitment to health equity and access to quality healthcare for everyone in Makati.
The partnership will initially run for one year but may be renewed depending on the program results.
The Makati City government established similar partnerships with Makati Medical Center and the Philippine Children's Medical Center, tapping their specialized healthcare services and medical equipment for Makatizens.
"We are always looking for ways to improve our healthcare system, and this partnership with CSMC is just another step in the right direction. We will continue looking for ways to give our citizens access to the quality healthcare they need and deserve," the mayor said.