pesowin SIMC to transforms surf spot into medical safe haven

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Aerial view of the Siargao Island Medical Center. —Photos by Arnel Tacson

MANILA, Philippines — As one of the world’s top surfing destinations, Siargao Island is finally on the brink of reaching a medical milestone with the nearing completion of the Siargao Island Medical Center (SIMC).

The SIMC, located in the municipality of Dapa in Siargao Island, was once a small infirmary struggling to accommodate emergency cases.

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According to SIMC chief Chloe Digal, the hospital’s former name was Siargao District Hospital. For decades, it was defined by the limitations of being a district hospital—overwhelmed by patient demand with its lack of doctors and staff.

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Digal recalls that when she first arrived at the district hospital, the facility had only three doctors.

“There were too many patients and then we were overqualified as an infirmary. Because our area is big, our admissions were also huge,” said Digal in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

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“At first, there were just a small number of us doctors, there were only three of us,” she added.

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It wasn’t until the Republic Act 11500, authored by Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II, was passed when the hospital was finally upgraded into a Level II General Hospital and was renamed into Siargao Island Medical Center.

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This then paved the way for expanded facilities and increase in both staff and capacity.

The decision was widely expected. An Inquirer’s poll of 10 economists correctly predicted today’s move by the Monetary Board, which will hold its next rate-setting meeting on Dec. 19.

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An upgrade for locals and tourists

With Siargao island rising as an international tourist destination, the new hospital is designed to treat emergency cases, major surgeries and even specialized treatments to address the need for more advanced medical services in the island.

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Digal, herself, beamed with pride as she talked about the upgrade, especially when looking back at how the island once went viral due to its medical limitations—triggered by cases of high-profile visitors needing medical help.

Even with the main hospital building still under construction, the SIMC now houses state-of-the-art operating rooms, a dedicated women’s health center (one of only three in Mindanao), a blood station, as well as an intensive care unit (ICU).

The hospital lab is now equipped with the latest technology, including a molecular lab with PCR machines.

While already upgraded, it does not take much for the SIMC’s emergency room to be filled with patients, hence making the construction of the new hospital building much more important.

SIMC’s current operating room

THE HOSPITAL’S MOLECULAR LAB The COVID-19 pandemic just a few years ago prompted the hospital to invest in PCR machines.

Digal said the SIMC has even established partnerships with third-party insurance providers for foreign tourists, and even medical evacuation services to provide emergency transport when necessary.

Once the construction of the main SMCI hospital building is finished—targeted inauguration in August 2025—the original SMCI building is planned to be renovated into an out-patient department, as well as a rehabilitation and wellness center. A convention room is also poised to be constructed on its second floor.

Once inaugurated, Digal said the SIMC then aims to fully reduce its patient referrals to other hospitals with the goal to add more in-house specialists such as radiologists, anesthesiologists and surgeons.

“‘When SIMC is finished, probably, we will have more doctors who will work with us. and one of our aims is to decrease the referral to Surigao City,” said Digal, who added that doing so would help decongest the said regional hospital.

Once the new building is completed, the facility will have an upgraded total of 100 hospital beds, with plans for further expansion as staffing increases.

Other services set to be added include a dedicated blood bank, new and upgraded operating rooms, emergency room complex, ICU, post-operative unit, CT scan facility, and negative pressure rooms.

Progress continues

However, while the future looks bright for the SIMC, the upgrades do not come without challenges. One of the present challenges faced by the hospital is its staffing.

Per RA 11500, the SIMC has received 283 government-funded positions, but as of posting, only a portion of these positions has been filled.

Currently, the hospital has 50+ nurses and 17 doctors, with ongoing recruitment for more specialists.

Digal also cited the difference between running a local government-run hospital to a DOH-managed facility.

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“We are not really experts on the DOH way yet, because the LGU (local government unit) way was different. So the DOH … is really trying to really look for ways to help us, to orient us in our financial management, because the LGU way was different,” she said.

Thankfully, the DOH provides training to staff to ensure that each nurse and doctor are able to provide medical services at the utmost standard.

“The DOH is equipping everyone in the hospital to be more competent, and better able to deliver quality service to the people,” said Digal.

To address the challenge of medical professional shortages SIMC has also introduced a program where doctors sent for further training must commit to serving the island for a certain period.

The SIMC also invested in state-of-the-art doctors’ quarters to attract medical professionals to work in the island.

To help attract medical professionals to Siargao’s remote island life, the SIMC built comfortable dorms for their doctors who come from outside the island.

A promise of safer, smarter healthcare

The new SIMC represents a lifeline not just to the residents of Siargao Island, but also the thousands of tourists who visit it every day.

“That’s what the management is doing now to improve our services. For all the tourists who come here, you will feel safe,” said Digal.

“.Time will come when we will be part of the country’s medical tourism, which is our dream, not only being a DOH hospital but one of DOH hospitals that Filipinos will be proud of, the people of the island will be proud of,” she added.

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The SMCI serves as a testament to how far the island has come—that along with the waves and adventures it housespesowin, both residents and tourists can count on quality healthcare whenever they need it.

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