Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso touted the free advanced heart care offered at Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory during the World Heart Day celebration at Manila High School in Intramuros.
In his speech, Domagoso urged residents to go to the hospital at the first sign of chest pain, saying some elderly dismiss the symptoms as simple breathlessness and stay home for fear of the cost.
“Naninikip pa lang ang dibdib, dapat pumunta na sa ospital. Natatakot dahil magastos. Magastos ba pumunta sa ospital? Naku, Diyos ko, napakagastos! Pero sa Ospital ng Maynila at sa iba pang mga ospital ng lungsod ng Maynila, walang gastos,” the mayor said.
He noted the hospital is full every weekday because its services are free, and that patients from other cities also go there.
The city’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, which performs heart procedures such as angiograms and angioplasty, is believed to be the only one in a local government-owned hospital in the Philippines, Domagoso said.
“We are the only local government unit-owned hospital na may cath lab.”
“I believe until today, we are the only local government unit-owned hospital na may cath lab,” he said.
Moreno drew a contrast between what wealthy and ordinary families can afford, saying heart procedures are often out of reach for those without money, while arguing that the quality of care in public and private hospitals is the same.
He said the patient’s procedure would have cost approximately ₱975,000 in a private hospital, where angioplasty procedures can range from ₱800,000 to ₱1.5 million.
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to open blocked or narrowed arteries supplying the heart. It does not require open-heart surgery and generally allows patients to recover and return home within a few days.
“Sa Maynila, walang mahirap, walang middle class, walang mayaman—lahat pantay-pantay.”
“Pareho lang ang galing ng doktor sa pribado at sa pampubliko; pareho lang ang makina. Sa Maynila, walang mahirap, walang middle class, walang mayaman—lahat pantay-pantay,” Domagoso said.
He also thanked the Philippine Heart Association for its partnership, saying the city’s investment in health care is part of his Minimum Basic Needs program covering housing, education, healthcare, and jobs.
Domagoso said the city plans to reinvest what it earns from PhilHealth into equipment, medicine, and support for medical professionals at its hospitals.
