Santa cruz: Sol Aragones has ordered the hiring of 20 additional doctors to strengthen the medical workforce in three of the province's major district hospitals. The move aims to ease the workload of existing staff and ensure more patients can be attended to promptly. Starting August 24, the new doctors will be deployed to the Laguna Medical Center in Santa Cruz, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial District Hospital in Calamba City, and San Pablo City District Hospital, Provincial Information Officer Danilo Lucas said in a message on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, "Gov. Aragones acknowledged that strengthening the province's healthcare system will take time but emphasized the importance of taking the first steps toward meaningful improvements," Lucas said. "The gradual deployment is expected to reduce burnout among current medical personnel and increase the number of healthcare workers available to serve patients across the province's key hospitals," he added.

Lucas also provided updates on ongoing hospital improvements. At the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial District Hospital in Calamba City, construction of a five-story building is underway, with the emergency room on the ground floor targeted to open by year-end. The hospital also houses the provincial Eye Center, a specialty service under Laguna's healthcare program.

Psychiatric services are also available at the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial District Hospital every Saturday and Sunday, and at the Laguna Medical Center on Thursdays and Fridays starting September. Meanwhile, the Laguna Medical Center will begin offering the province's first free Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) service for residents this September.

Meanwhile, San Pablo City District Hospital has recently expanded its capabilities with a new chemotherapy center featuring 20 chairs for free treatment of qualified patients, as well as an advanced CT scan machine to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce the need for residents to travel outside the province for care.