SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon (PIA) – The government is beefing up its capacity as a key healthcare provider by constructing a new hospital for the residents of Sorsogon’s second district.
Sherwin Amisola, chief of Irosin District Hospital (IDH), announced that construction is underway for a state-of-the-art hospital in Barangay Buenavista, Irosin, funded by P144 million from the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
The new hospital will have a capacity of 250 beds and will be four stories tall. It is designed to meet the needs of the growing populations in the towns of Santa Magdalena, Bulan, Matnog, and Irosin, and is expected to begin operating next year.
Amisola explained that the initiative to build the new hospital was prompted by overcrowding at the Provincial Hospital in Sorsogon City, where patients are now filling even the aisles and other available spaces.
Additionally, the Irosin District Hospital (IDH), which is a level one facility authorized by the Department of Health and has a capacity of only 25 beds, is also struggling to accommodate patients. The average patient load at IDH has reached 80 to 100.
“The IDH is one of the hospitals frequently referring patients to the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital (SPH). If the new provincial hospital opens here in Irosin, we will be better equipped to accommodate patients, thereby reducing congestion at the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital,” he added.
Additionally, IDH lacks a computed tomography (CT) scan, and due to its poor structural condition, it can no longer meet the Department of Health standards, even if the hospital acquires new equipment.
Susan Abarnas, a 60-year-old resident of Irosin, expressed her happiness as she witnessed the ongoing construction of the new hospital.
She noted that residents will no longer need to travel to SPH for medical emergencies.
“When my husband was ill with pneumonia, he was referred from IDH to SPH. The new hospital will be a tremendous help because we won’t have to travel far anymore,” Abarnas said.
“Others will be more motivated to get check-ups or laboratory tests since the facility will be nearby, which will allow for better healthcare monitoring,” Amisola added. (With reports from Kyla Jane Pancho and Romell Baria, PIA 5/Sorsogon)
