Patients of the Lung Center of the Philippines join the momentous occassion following the launch of the National Lung Transplant Program. (Photo Courtesy: PCO)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, January 23, led the launching of the country’s first lung transplant at the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) in Quezon City.
This lung transplant program, a collaboration between the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), is more than just a medical marvel; it's a triumph of the Marcos administration’s efforts to improve the country’s healthcare system.
“Let us remember that healthcare is our covenant with the people, a public commitment driven by neither political agenda nor personal legacy projects. In this hospital where heroes walked and worked, may this program be a testament to our unwavering duty to serve the Filipinos,” Marcos said in his speech.
As part of the program, the LCP has been improving its infrastructure capacity, which includes the renovation of its post-anesthesia care unit worth P4.2 million and surgical intensive care unit amounting to P1.8 million, which will be funded through the 2024 General Appropriations Act and private sector donations.
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https://pia.gov.ph/news/2024/01/24/more-pulmonary-health-patients-to-benefit-from-the-national-lung-transplant-program
https://pia.gov.ph/news/2023/08/03/10-qc-hospitals-get-additional-p50m-fund
Prior to the fire that gutted the hospital in 1998, LCP was pioneering lung transplants, boasting successful surgeries on dogs. A devastating fire, however, set back these aspirations. But like the phoenix rising from ashes, the program is reborn, its infrastructure bolstered by government and private investments. The renovated post-anesthesia care unit and surgical intensive care unit stand as concrete manifestations of a renewed commitment to saving lives.
PBBM’s emphatic promise to rebuild the NKTI Annex further underscores his administration’s unwavering dedication to providing Filipinos with cutting-edge care.
“We will be coming to you again so that we can complete the rebuilding. I was a little sad to hear that the damage that was caused by the fire of 1998 has not yet been completely rehabilitated, and I think that’s the first thing that we have to look at,” the President said.
This dedication comes from a deeply personal place, as the President himself battled COVID-19, a stark reminder of the invisible enemies that threaten life.
The launch of the Philippines' first lung transplant program is not just a medical breakthrough; it's a monument to hope, collaboration, and unwavering Filipino spirit. It whispers the promise of a future where even the most debilitating lung diseases can be overcome, where every breath is not a struggle, but a testament to the power of human ingenuity and compassion. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
