The Kidney and Transplant Institute at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) held its soft launch on Friday and will gradually begin accepting patients, with full operations planned for January 2026.
SPMC assured the public that treatments at the institute will be affordable, complemented by enhanced PhilHealth benefits to help reduce out-of-pocket costs.
The facility will feature a large team of specialist doctors to provide comprehensive care.
During the soft launch phase, two of the four operating rooms and several charity wards will open to accommodate patients gradually.
SMPC Medical Center Chief Dr. Ricardo Audan outlined the facility’s capacity: one presidential room, pay wards, 32 charity beds, 16 private ICU beds, one isolation unit, eight post-anesthesia care units (PACU), and three pre-operation beds, for a total of 74 beds.
Dr. Maria Theresa Bad-ang, head of the Kidney and Transplant Institute, described the facility as a one-stop center for patients with kidney-related illnesses.
“The institute provides a wide range of services, including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplants, immunology testing, urology, nephrology training, pediatric nephrology, and nursing training for dialysis,” she said.
Bad-ang emphasized that the institute aligns with SPMC’s broader goal of becoming an apex hospital, offering complete medical services. Currently, the hospital houses 17 specialized institutes and departments catering to a diverse range of health conditions.
The institute was first conceptualized in 2013 by former SPMC medical center chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega, who observed a rising number of kidney disease cases in Mindanao. Previously, patients had to travel to Luzon or Visayas for kidney transplants due to the lack of a local facility.
Construction of the building began in 2016, and according to SPMC, the soft launch marks a major milestone in bringing specialized kidney and transplant care closer to home.
