Mayor Isko opens Manila's first Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
The country's first LGU-owned and operated Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the Ospital ng Maynila (OsMan). (Photo from Manila PIO)
Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso led the inauguration of Manila’s first-ever Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) at the Ospital ng Maynila, a specialized facility that will provide life-saving heart procedures free of charge to city residents.
The laboratory, licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) last Jan. 7, houses advanced imaging equipment to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases without surgery.
Angiograms in private hospitals cost at least P58,000, while angioplasty can reach over P300,000.
In Manila’s new facility, these procedures will be gradually rolled out at no cost to patients.
“Today is the start of a long journey, because we are going to deliver angiogram, and hopefully later on, magkaroon tayo ng angioplasty, (we can have angioplasty)” Domagoso said.
He added that the laboratory is part of a larger vision that includes converting the old Ospital ng Maynila into the new Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) Academic Building for Health Sciences.
“From producing 300 to 500 graduates, we will now produce 5,000 medical professionals. That’s contribution and participation to nation-building,” he said.
He also lamented that the lab had remained idle after being built in his previous term.
Domagoso also took the opportunity to defend the city’s health workers, saying it was unfair to blame them for the previous administration's system failures.
“Rest assured, despite lack of resources, we will continue to support our doctors and nurses with the facilities they need.”