by Noel Baguio
The Department of Health (DOH) is supporting plans for the development of medical tourism in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), Davao del Norte.
Health Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial assured the department’s support for the proposed modern medical facility to establish the island for medical tourism.
“We will look into putting up a state-of-the-art medical facility in Samal that will primarily cater to the medical needs of tourists,” Asec. Ubial said, during the finalization of the rationalization plan for health in the four provinces of the Davao region.
Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario has proposed the development of medical tourism in the island as part of his strategy to strengthen the health sector, it being an important component of his thrust in human development.
In his inaugural message last July, the governor expressed his intention to position the resort-island city, for medical tourism, besides being a favorite destination for foreign and local retirees seeking a home of their own.
The island has a district hospital owned and operated by the province.
Plagued by limited resources, its decrepit building and facilities can hardly provide for quality health needs of the local populace, much less attract tourists seeking medical treatment there.
“We have to upgrade the hospital,” Ubial said, adding that she would personally lobby for the establishment of a medical center in IGaCoS similar to the modern medical facilities in the resort islands of Boracay, Camiguin and Siargao.
She bared the DOH invested around P100 million for the medical center in Camiguin, which now has a state-of-the-art intensive care unit.
The department had also recently transformed a public hospital in Siargao into the “St. Luke’s Hospital of the South”.
“We can also do that for the Island Garden City of Samal,” she assured.
Provincial health officer Dr. Agapito Hornido said Gov. Del Rosario is willing to donate about five to 10 hectares of his property in the island city, as site of the new medical center in IGaCoS.
