Baguio: The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) is set to have all 16 of its specialty centers fully operational between 2028 and 2030. This development is part of BGHMC's plan to expand its capacity from 600 to 1,500 beds, aiming to better serve patients from Regions 1, 2, 3, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
According to Philippines News Agency, BGHMC Medical Center Chief Dr. Larry Haya mentioned in an interview that the ongoing construction involves large, multi-story structures across the hospital compound. This has created a phased completion timeline extending to 2030. Despite the ongoing construction, several specialty services, including heart, kidney, lung, eye, mental health, geriatrics, rehabilitation medicine, cancer, and trauma, have already started operating in partially completed areas to reduce the burden on patients and their families.
Dr. Haya clarified that while some subspecialty clinics have not yet opened, core departments such as internal medicine and pediatrics continue to be fully operational. He emphasized that patients no longer need to travel to Metro Manila for a range of medical services, as BGHMC is equipped to provide them locally.
BGHMC, operated by the Department of Health, currently serves an average daily load that exceeds its 600-bed capacity, functioning at approximately 110 percent occupancy. The outpatient department accommodates about 1,000 patients daily, while the emergency room sees between 300 to 500 patients.
Patient numbers have increased following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s announcement of zero balance billing (ZBB) for basic accommodations. Dr. Haya expressed gratitude to private hospitals for assisting in handling some of the overflow as BGHMC undergoes expansion.
