San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora has announced significant rehabilitation efforts for the San Juan Medical Center (SJMC), ending 18 years of neglect. The mayor emphasized that the hospital had not deteriorated under his administration, but rather had been in a poor state prior to his term.
Zamora revealed that the SJMC had been classified as a Level 1 hospital for nearly two decades, limiting its medical services and capabilities.
In a recent statement, he highlighted that the city government has secured ₱554 million in funding for new medical equipment, including its first MRI and CT scan machines.
Plans for Improvement
The funding will also support renovations to the emergency room, upgrades to hospital facilities, and the acquisition of three new ambulances.
‘When I became mayor in 2019, SJMC was in a deeply neglected state. For 18 years, it remained just a Level 1 hospital with very limited medical services,’ said Zamora.
Francis Zamora
Zamora expressed frustration at recent claims suggesting that the hospital's condition worsened under his leadership. He countered these claims by detailing the dire circumstances that patients faced, such as revoked PhilHealth accreditation and the need for patients to bring their own electric fans.
According to Zamora, improvements began as soon as he took office, including a thorough inspection of the hospital that revealed unused medical equipment stored away.
Current Status and Future Plans
The SJMC has since upgraded to a Level 2 hospital and regained PhilHealth accreditation, enabling it to provide more comprehensive services. Zamora noted that ongoing projects include a Hemodialysis Center, a Blood Bank, and an Ambulatory Surgical Clinic.
He reiterated his commitment to enhancing healthcare services, stating, 'Since then, SJMC has become a DOH Level 2 licensed hospital, capable of handling more extensive medical procedures with better facilities and trained personnel.'
Zamora did not specify who made the claims about the hospital's decline, but former mayor JV Ejercito previously expressed disappointment over the facility's state.
Ejercito emphasized that healthcare should be prioritized over aesthetic projects, calling for renewed focus on the hospital's needs.