Laboratory services at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH) will soon get an upgrade with its planned construction of a three-story, PHP75-million clinical laboratory building.

“Worth almost PHP75 million, the laboratory building aims to improve the laboratory system in the province to detect and respond to emerging diseases,” Department of Health (DOH) regional director Paula Sydiongco said during a groundbreaking ceremony.

Sydiongco said once operational, the clinical laboratory will increase the operational efficiency of the hospital to cater to a growing demand for laboratory services.

In a speech, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc thanked the DOH for the continued support to upgrade the hospital’s services.

Aside from the construction of new buildings, Manotoc said his administration will continue to hire more health personnel to provide better medical care to the more than 600,000 residents of Ilocos Norte.

“The GRBASMH has improved over the years but we still have a long way to go to further improve our healthcare system,” said Manotoc as he enjoined all health personnel to do their share in improving the services at the hospital.

As one of the priority programs of the Ilocos Norte government, all public hospitals in the province are being upgraded to improve the delivery of basic health care to the Ilocanos.

Almost PHP100 million has earlier been allocated for the construction of a new building at the provincial hospital and improvement of its existing facilities.

The existing emergency building will also be expanded into a two-story building, also within this year. (PNA)