AboitizPower turns over new endoscopy system to Quezon Medical Center

By PJ Tanglao AboitizPower turns over new endoscopy system to Quezon Medical Center. (AboitizPower) LUCENA CITY, Quezon - The Quezon Med...

By PJ Tanglao

AboitizPower turns over new endoscopy system to Quezon Medical Center. (AboitizPower)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - The Quezon Medical Center has acquired a new Endoscopy System with Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) capability through a P17.8-million corporate social responsibility (CSR) project by Therma Luzon, Inc. (TLI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation.

The new equipment was turned over to the Quezon Provincial Health Network - Quezon Medical Center (QPHN-QMC).



The absence of an ERCP system in public hospitals has been a barrier for patients with conditions affecting the bile and pancreatic ducts. These patients are often required to travel to other provinces or Metro Manila to receive care. The new system will allow QMC to become a local referral center, providing timely access to this specialized procedure for residents of Quezon's 39 municipalities and two cities.

"For years now, the capability to treat patients who need ERCP has been an essential requirement at QMC," said Governor Helen Tan during the turnover ceremony. "This equipment is a giant leap forward. Early and correct diagnoses can greatly affect patient outcomes, preventing the progression of serious illnesses like cancer and saving the lives of our dear provincemates.”

The ERCP procedure is used to diagnose and treat conditions such as gallstones, bile duct obstructions, and pancreatic diseases. It is a less invasive standard of care for these conditions.

At present, with a 350-bed capacity, QMC admits an average of 42,300 patients annually. However, ERCP procedures are only offered by a select few large private hospitals in Lucena City, making the procedure inaccessible and expensive for the average resident of Quezon.

“Without access to these services, many individuals face delayed diagnoses, leading to complications such as biliary obstruction, sepsis, or advanced malignancies. This severely impacts survival outcomes and puts added pressure on emergency and surgical services of QMC.” added QMC Chief of Hospital Dr. Juan Villanueva.

Celso Caballero III, the Chief Operating Officer of AboitizPower's Transition Business Group, also emphasized the impact of the donation and TLI’s continuing support to healthcare in Quezon through the company’s CSR programs.

"This is a collective investment in healthier communities," Caballero declared. "It equips physicians with an important tool to save lives, facilitate earlier detection of illnesses, and provide improved quality care, ultimately to make healthcare more accessible and responsive to our fellow Quezonians' needs."

Alongside TLi’s previous efforts like its recent collaboration with the Camp Nakar Station Hospital & Dental & Eyecare Mission in Brgy. Ibabang Polo, this project is part of a broader initiative to enhance the Quezon Medical Center's capability for providing critical health services and emergency response.