The cancer center at West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) in Iloilo City is now set to operate full-time, thanks to the addition of 52 new staff members. This announcement was made by WVSU president Dr. Joselito Villaruz during his State of the University Address on January 28, 2025. Initially, there were concerns that the center might not be fully utilized due to staffing shortages, but the recent approval of these positions has alleviated those fears.
Dr. Villaruz expressed his gratitude for the timely approval of the new positions, describing it as a ‘gift from the Lord.’ He emphasized that the center will now be able to operate at full capacity and has the financial resources to purchase brachytherapy equipment, enhancing cancer treatment options for patients, particularly those from Western Visayas. The center aims to complement other public hospitals by focusing on serving indigent patients, with the necessary expertise and laboratory facilities to conduct required tests.
Patients interested in the center’s services must be enrolled with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to access the Z benefit package. In his address, Dr. Villaruz also highlighted the resilience of the University Medical Center in overcoming the challenges of the pandemic. He noted the completion of 18 major infrastructure projects, including a molecular laboratory that played a crucial role in Covid-19 testing.
Further developments include the renovation of the operating room complex and the expansion of the renal care center, which now boasts 20 hemodialysis machines. Additionally, a 15-story multi-specialty center is 40 percent complete. The facility’s patient capacity has seen a significant increase, rising from 6,468 in 2021 to 9,936 in 2024. Dr. Villaruz also mentioned a 7.64 percent increase in medical assistance for indigent patients, totaling PHP255 million in aid.