The Department of Health (DoH) granted the Caloocan City North Medical Center (CCNMC) Level One status, enabling it to perform additional medical procedures.

Under Level 1 status, the CCNMC can offer additional health procedures including first-born delivery, diagnostic X-ray, general ultrasound, HIV confirmatory laboratory, mammography, CT scan and 2D echo.

According to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s Selection Criteria, Level 1 hospitals must have isolation facilities, maternity and dental clinics, a first-level X-ray, a secondary clinical laboratory with a consulting pathologist, a blood station and a pharmacy.

Earlier this month, the local government also purchased new medical equipment which includes new CT scan machines, anesthesia machines, x-ray machines, incubators, hematology machines and blood bank refrigerators.

Shaira Peniano of the Caloocan City Public Information Office disclosed that despite being a public hospital, the local government cannot yet offer all its services for free.

“They will still have to pay, but the costs will be lower compared to private hospitals,” Peniano said.

She added that in line with the cityhood anniversary of Caloocan City this February, some medical operations will be offered for free at both Caloocan City Medical Center South and Caloocan City North Medical Center.

These services include minor operations, mammograms, IUD insertions, pap smears and syphilis testing.