With the primary aim of providing free medical and health care services to the athletes participating in the South East Asian Games, the Philippine General Hospital Satellite for Sports Medicine and Wellness (PGH-SSMW) opened the first phase of the PGH Polyclinic at the New Clark City sports complex.
The PGH Polyclinic, which is the first healthcare facility outside of the UP Manila campus, is equipped with a 24-hour emergency room facility, primary care and sports medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, x-ray and ultrasound (imaging center), diagnostic laboratory and pharmacy.
UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla explained that the Polyclinic opening is the first of three development phases. “The second and third phases are targeted towards opening a 25 bed, and eventually a 250-bed hospital.” She added that the phasing will depend on the growth of the New Clark City.
PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi cited UP Manila Chancellor for being the “prime mover” in the PGH Polyclinic venture. He recalled how the newly inaugurated facility has progressed from being a “barren, dusty land” to the modern medical facility it is now.
Legaspi explained how the medical team of around 20 personnel from PGH will be deployed. “During the SEA Games, there will be a bus from PGH departing at 5am to NCC. From 7am top 7pm, there will be regular staffing, and beyond 7pm, there will be an emergency team on standby.”
UP Manila President Danilo Concepcion shared that “The University of the Philippines, through UP Manila and its training hospital, PGH, is committed to serve the health needs of the SEA Games athletes, and the rest of the NCC community.”
Concepcion shared that in addition to PGH-SSMW, a total of four (4) PGH facilities will be built outside of Manila. This plan has already started with NCC, and the other three (3) are eyed at UP Diliman, UP Pampanga and UP Los Baños.
