The Medical City Clark vows compliance with Anti-Hospital Deposit Law

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — The Medical City Clark (TMC Clark) has reaffirmed its commitment to comply with the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, which prohibits hospitals from requiring deposits before providing basic emergency care to patients in emergency or serious condition.

TMC Clark serves as the official medical facility and emergency trauma response hub for the Clark Freeport Zone, including Clark International Airport, supporting emergency and trauma response in the area.

“TMC Clark strictly adheres to Republic Act No. 10932, or the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, which prohibits requiring deposits as a prerequisite for providing basic emergency care in emergency or serious cases,” the hospital said in a statement sent to the Inquirer on Oct. 21.

During a recent media gathering here, TMC officials highlighted the healthcare network’s continuing expansion of its services, medical expertise, facilities and technology to make “global-quality healthcare” more accessible to Filipinos.

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“Through TMC Clark and TMC Pangasinan hospitals, patients across Central and North Luzon can now receive advanced care closer to home,” the network said.

TMC said it is the Philippines’ largest healthcare network operating under a single brand, with five hospitals and more than 70 clinics nationwide.

“Our goal is to ensure that Filipinos do not have to leave their communities to find world-class care. As we strengthen our regional hospitals as centers of excellence, we are building a network that brings advanced medicine closer to the people who need it,” said Dr. Stuart Bennett, TMC president and group chief executive officer.

The 103-bed TMC Clark is the first and only hospital north of Metro Manila accredited by Joint Commission International, a nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations worldwide.

The hospital offers Central Luzon’s first hybrid cardiac and vascular catheterization laboratory, which combines catheter-based diagnostic and treatment procedures with surgical capabilities for heart and brain conditions. It also provides advanced neurosurgery and interventional neurology services, supported by a dedicated specialized intensive care unit.

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TMC Clark was also the first hospital north of Metro Manila to perform mechanical thrombectomy, a procedure used to remove blood clots from blocked blood vessels.

Its Julius K. Quiambao Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center houses a positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scanner, which supports advanced cancer detection and staging.

The center has also successfully implemented sentinel node localization, a procedure used to help identify lymph nodes that may need to be examined for cancer spread.

The hospital also operates Central Luzon’s first and only specialized burn unit.

“Our patients in Central Luzon deserve the same standard of care they would find anywhere in the world. Every new capability we add is meant to give families access to treatment closer to home,” said Earline Borlongan, TMC Clark hospital director.

Meanwhile, TMC Pangasinan in Dagupan City expects to complete its new emergency room and expanded intensive care unit within six months.

The upgrades are intended to increase the hospital’s capacity to accommodate patients requiring emergency and critical care in North Luzon.

“For many families in North Luzon, getting advanced care used to mean a long journey to Manila. We are committed to making that journey unnecessary wherever possible, while keeping our patients connected to the expertise of the entire TMC network,” said Dr. Juan Antonio Maximiano Escano, TMC Pangasinan president and chief executive officer.

TMC Pangasinan also continues to inform the public about PhilHealth benefits available to eligible patients, including coverage for certain services such as sleep studies and eye care procedures.

“Through our partnership with the Provincial Hospital Management Services Office, we are strengthening hospital-to-hospital referral systems to help facilitate timely access to appropriate medical services,” the hospital added. /mcm