Singapore General Hospital conducts medical mission in Ilocos Norte

City of Batac—The provincial government of Ilocos Norte, in partnership with the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC), conducted a medical mission in the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte, from Sept. 19 to 21, 2024.

SGH is the largest acute care tertiary hospital in Singapore, with over 50 clinical specialties, emphasizing patient-centered care and comprehensive healthcare services, and is a leader in medical education and research.

The medical team from Singapore was comprised of renown orthopedic, hand, and plastic surgeons, as well as senior nursing and allied healthcare staff. Surgeries performed included hip and knee replacements, arthroscopic procedures for both the shoulder and knee, as well as complex upper limb and facial reconstructive surgeries.

Over the years, PGIN, under the leadership of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, has continued to focus on improving the province's health system by partnering with medical institutions in addressing various medical concerns of Ilokanos.

Manotoc expressed his gratitude for this opportunity, saying: "We are extremely grateful and we cannot express how vital this [medical mission] is for us and the impact that you all will be making in the lives of many Ilokanos."

He also highlighted that "medical care is always a challenge in Ilocos Norte, particularly in terms of affordability and making sure that the right procedures, with the right equipment and with the right doctor is possible."

"I hope we can find ways to expand this initiative and continue this collaboration to improve our hospitals in the province," he ended.

Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, MMMMHMC medical center chief II, shared that the hospital management plans to continue collaborating with SGH to conduct the program on a larger scale and establish a stronger partnership that can improve the province's healthcare system.

Furthermore, Professor Andrew Tan, the head of the SGH Orthopedic Department, said they have a very strong team for this medical mission and expressed his hopes for a productive medical mission, saying:

"We look forward to working with you, doing our best for the patients, and learning from one another to improve our work.

We are going to do a lot of surgeries, so I think this is a positive step in the right direction," Prof. Tan added.

The medical mission served more than 20 beneficiaries from the various towns of Ilocos Norte. The costs were shared by the two medical institutions, while the hospitalization and postoperative care will be covered by MMMHMC. (PGIN-CMO)