Iloilo City: The cancer center at West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) is prepared to commence full-time operations following the addition of 52 staff members. WVSU president Dr. Joselito Villaruz announced this development during his State of the University Address, expressing relief over overcoming prior concerns about insufficient manpower leading to underutilization of the center.

According to Philippines News Agency, the green light for the new staffing positions enables the center to operate fully and acquire brachytherapy equipment to enhance cancer treatments, especially for patients from the Western Visayas region. Dr. Villaruz emphasized that the center aims to complement rather than compete with other regional cancer facilities by focusing on indigent patients. The center is equipped with experts and laboratories to conduct necessary tests, and services are available to patients enrolled with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation under the Z benefit package.

In his address, Dr. Villaruz highlighted the resilience of the University Medical Center during the pandemic, noting the completion of 18 major infrastructure projects. These include the inauguration of a molecular laboratory that played a significant role in COVID-19 testing. Additionally, the center boasts a newly renovated operating room complex, an expanded renal care center with 20 hemodialysis machines, and a 15-story multi-specialty center that is 40 percent complete.

Dr. Villaruz reported an increase in the facility’s annual patient capacity to 9,936 in 2024, up from 6,468 in 2021. Moreover, medical assistance for indigent patients has increased by 7.64 percent, amounting to PHP255 million in aid.