PH Orthopedic Center: OP aid used for day surgery equipment

The Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) said Monday it used a part of the P200 million in financial assistance given by the Office of the President last year to buy new equipment for its outpatient or day surgery services.

In a public briefing, POC medical center chief Dr. Jose Pujalte Jr. said that their doctors are able to operate on 18 to 20 patients per day, in compliance with Universal Healthcare.

The POC’s outpatient department could also accommodate 500 to 600 patients a day, while its emergency rooms could cater to 100 to 120 patients daily.

Through the P200 million financial aid from the OP, Pujalte said that the POC was able to procure minimally invasive operating devices to be used for day surgery.

“Sa tulong ng Office of the President last year, nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na kumuha ng mga bagong gamit. Ang direksyon ng Philippine Orthopedic Center ay tinatawag na day surgery. Ibig sabihin, papasok ang pasyente sa umaga, ooperahan, at makakauwi na sa hapon,” he explained.

(With the help of the Office of the President last year, we were given the opportunity to procure new equipment. The direction of the Philippine Orthopedic Center is to do day surgery. This means that when a patient gets admitted in the morning, the patient will be able to go home later that day after the surgery.)

The financial assistance was in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s goal of developing specialty centers across the country and prioritizing the healthcare sector.

In August 2023, Marcos signed Republic Act No. 11959 — or An Act Establishing Specialty Centers in Department of Health Hospitals in Every Region and in Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporation [GOCC] Specialty Hospitals and Appropriating Funds Therefore.

Pujalte said that in 2024, the POC would strive to develop its orthopedics and rehabilitation medicine services.

“Ito ay tugon natin sa sinasabi ni President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na i-develop ang specialty centers. Kasama ang orthopedics at rehabilitation medicine. Pagpapautloy lang ito ng aming serbisyo at sisiguraduhin namin na ang mga pasyente ay maooperahan sa tamang panahon at sa tamang paraan,” he added.

(This is our response to what President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed in developing the specialty centers. This includes orthopedics and rehabilitation medicine. This is just a continuation of our service, and we will ensure that patients are operated on at the right time and in the right way.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News