MRI now available in Butuan, 1st in Caraga
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY – Caraganons will no longer have to travel to other regions in the country to undergo the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as this type of diagnostic test is now made readily available at Manuel J. Santos Hospital of this city, that is expected to serve patients and clients not only from Caraga, but also those from neighboring regions.
This Siemens 1.5 T MRI can be found at the said hospital, which is a level II healthcare facility operating under Metro Pacific Health, the largest private hospital operator of the country.
The MRI is capable of producing very clear images of organs and structures of the human body.
Dr. Terence Anthony S. Vesagas, chief executive officer of MJSH, underscored that this endeavor is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the health facility to universal health care. “This MRI is part of the hospital's long-term goal of providing the best healthcare service in the entire Caraga and neighboring regions,” he said.
He further stressed that MJSH has high-caliber health professionals to serve the Butuanons and the Caraganons in general.
Michael Jibson C. Hernandez, regional vice president of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Caraga, expressed his felicitation to the management and health workers of MJSH, for launching its new diagnostic equipment, as the first in Caraga.
"We treat you as our partners and we opt to sustain our partnership, as we want to help the Caraganons in terms of addressing their health and medical needs. In terms of claims processing in the entire Mindanao, Philhealth is on top, and our systems are all up, and we will continue to serve our fellow Caraganons," he said.
Dr. Eduardo Gonzales, councilor of Butuan City, said that the local government unit led by Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada is supportive of the efforts and initiatives of the health institutions in the city, especially with this newly installed MRI.
"What is good about this MRI is that it doesn't have radiation, so it's really safe for people. Apart from the fact that it has some sort of noise when being used, there's no other issue about it. You will only have to undergo the MRI for 15 minutes and after that you will have a very accurate and clear image of your internal body condition," said Dr. Gonzales.
Dr. Gonzales added that healthcare is a constitutional right and that is why the government, along with the health sector, creates health programs and initiatives to address the health and medical needs of the people.
With this development, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga is also optimistic that this will ease the burden of the Caraganons in spending much to travel far to other places just to avail of the MRI service.
Dr. Glenn H. Tiangha, RLED chief/ licensing officer V/ OIC-director III of the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga, elaborated that the benefits of a cutting edge MRI system include improved image quality, faster scan times, and enhanced diagnostic capabilities. This, he said, can lead to more accurate and timely diagnosis, better treatment planning and improved patient outcomes.
“Additionally, investing in advanced medical technology reflects a commitment to staying at the forefront of healthcare innovation. It can attract top medical professionals and researchers to the hospital and contribute to the overall reputation of the institution,” Dr. Tiangha bared.
Also, Celso Bernardo G. Lopez, president of MJSH, highlighted that the health professionals who have clinics at MJSH in Butuan City are rent-free. This he said is their way of ensuring that medical doctors could really provide the best service to their patients.
“Affordability is about value creation, and that there should be balance on the price of the services and the people’s demand for health care,” added Lopez.
To ensure that every possible patient is taken care of, Lopez said that the MJSH has already taken steps to improve its services by separating the emergency facility from the outpatients services. "We are a patient-centered facility, so we will definitely accommodate our clients," he remarked.
The Manuel J. Santos Hospital is a 100-bed, Level II healthcare facility that operates a free-standing renal care center right across the street at the back of the hospital, and a primary care center in the municipality of Nasipit. It was founded in 1933 and has been serving the community for over 90 years. It is now operating under Metro Pacific Health, (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
