Pasig City General Hospital (PCGH) now has its own Cardiovascular Catheterization Laboratory (Cardiac Cath Lab), allowing patients to undergo life-saving heart procedures without the need to travel to national hospitals or spend hundreds of thousands in private facilities.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto led the inauguration on Tuesday, March 25, and expressed his gratitude to the PCGH team led by Medical Director Dr. Paulo Castro and Project-in-Charge Dr. Ronald Santos. He also thanked the City Council, especially Health Chairman Councilor Eric Gonzales, for their support in making the project possible.
“Heart's Day in March at PCGH. Inauguration of our brand new cardiovascular catheterization lab,” the mayor said.
“Ngayong may "Cardiac Cath Lab" na tayo, mababawasan na yung kailangan pang pumunta sa malayo... hindi na rin kailangan gumastos ng 60-350K… (Now that we have a Cardiac Cath Lab, fewer patients will need to travel far—or spend P60,000 to P350,000 for treatment),” he explained.
Sotto said patients needing angioplasty, bypass, and other heart procedures were previously referred to distant or costly hospitals.
“Pag kailangan ng angioplasty, bypass, at iba pang procedure, nire-refer pa natin sa ibang national hospital (kung saan minsan matagal pa bago ma-schedule) o sa private na may kamahalan (When patients need angioplasty, bypass, or other procedures, they are often referred to national hospitals where scheduling can take time or in private hospitals, which can be costly),” he said.
He added that some patients at the hospital also suffer sudden heart attacks, including acute heart attacks with cardiogenic shock.
First-of-its-kind equipment in Asia
Sotto added that the project cost of ₱80 million features equipment that is the first of its kind in Asia outside Japan. The new lab is equipped with a Shimadzu Trinias Opera Cath Lab.
“Sulit ang P80M sa proyektong ito (This P80M project is well worth it). Equipment: Shimadzu Trinias Opera Cathlab. I was told that this is the 1st of its kind in Asia outside of Japan,” he stated.
An expanded waiting area and a security outpost were also inaugurated.
Meanwhile, Sotto vowed to continue improving PCGH, similar to the new facilities completed in 2024, which house oncology, hemodialysis, the supply area, and the laundry facility.
He added that the next project will focus on road and drainage improvements in the compound, along with other developments planned until 2026.