Residents on Bantayan Island are assured of improved healthcare services now that they got a new hospital building, an official said on Wednesday.

Mayor Arthur Despi said the PHP54.59-million three-story building for the Bantayan District Hospital at Ticad, Bantayan town will house the outpatient department, a conference room, and offices for the hospital officials.

The district hospital will also have an animal bite treatment center and laboratory complex for coronavirus disease patients. It will cater to patients from three island towns of Bantayan, Madridejos, and Sta. Fe.

Despi said Governor Gwendolyn Garcia led officials in the inauguration of the new building on Tuesday.

The provincial government also made some improvements to the facility, which include retrofitting of the main laboratory, conversion of a building into a hazard waste storage facility, and repainting works, all amounting to PHP5.5 million.

“Gov. Gwen Garcia exerted efforts to upgrade the health facility on Bantayan Island from being an infirmary with only 25 beds to qualify as Level 1 hospital that can accommodate at least 100 beds,” he said.

In April this year, the district hospital started to cater to special needs such as major surgeries and cesarian section, among others, after DOH-7 regional director Jaime Bernadas signed the license to operate as a “level one hospital.” (PNA)