San Juan Medical Center a priority – Zamora

MANILA, Philippines —   San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora defended the San Juan Medical Center, citing increased funding and ongoing upgrades for the SJMC amid criticisms of its condition.

In an interview with The STAR, Zamora said the city government had significantly raised the hospital’s budget since he assumed office in 2019, from P315 million to P644 million this year.

“This appropriation alone shows the importance we give to SJMC because it is our only public hospital,” Zamora said.

He compared the figures to those of previous administrations, noting that the hospital’s budget was at P61 million in 2001 and P110 million by 2010.

Sen. JV Ejercito earlier raised concern over the condition of SJMC, citing complaints from residents and alleging that equipment procured in previous years had not been immediately utilized, especially during the pandemic.

Zamora said his administration found some medical equipment previously procured that remained unused.

“These could not be used because the facilities where they were supposed to be installed were unfinished,” he explained.

Zamora said the city government is upgrading facilities, including a dialysis center and sewage treatment plant, and plans to acquire new equipment such as a CT scan, MRI and a catheterization laboratory.

He noted that during his administration, the hospital was upgraded from Level 1 to Level 2, with plans to achieve Level 3 status, which would allow the facility to perform all kinds of medical procedures, by the end of his term in 2028.