DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire visited the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC) in Batac City as it celebrated its 55th anniversary on Friday.

Vergeire was joined by Field Implementation and Coordination Team-North Luzon Undersecretary Enrique Tayag, Ilocos Region Center for Health Development Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco, Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Albornoz, MMMHMC Medical Center chief Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza and other hospital officials.

According to the DoH, the MMMHMC is one of the leading hospitals in Northern Luzon which delivers level 3 services such as departmentalized outpatient department, and emergency in-patient department with specialty and subspecialty treatment and care.

It also provides level 3 diagnostic and paramedical services, and training and affiliation programs.

The hospital is currently being expanded under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, such as the creation of a seven-story Geriatric Center Building and Cancer Center Building, while future advancements in specialty areas such as a neonatal center, eye center, heart, lung and kidney centers, infectious diseases and tropical medicine, geriatrics, oncology, orthopedic, and mental health and dermatology are also underway.

Vergeire said that the hospital, alongside local government executives, serves as an anchor for affordable and quality health services in the Ilocos Region.

'Kaya, lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa ating mga executives, hospital administrators at maging mga health care workers na patuloy na tumutugon sa lumalawig na pangangailangang medikal ng ating mga kababayan,' Vergeire said.

Prior to her hospital visit, Vergeire met with Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos-Manotoc to discuss ways to support and strengthen the province's health care programs and services.

'The Department is heartened to have an ally in Ilocos Norte in making quality health services accessible and responsive to the needs of the community,' Vergeire said.