Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) launched Phase 2 of its newly renovated Operating Room Complex (ORC) on Friday. The 879-square-meter expansion adds nine state-of-the-art operating rooms, increasing the total to 14 from 10.

The ORC now includes a 15-bed recovery room, two isolation rooms, and upgraded spaces designed for greater efficiency and comfort for doctors, nurses, staff, patients, and families.

Phase 2 follows the completion of Phase 1 in July 2024, which added five additional theaters, including two ophthalmology rooms, one ENT-ORL theater, and two minor surgery rooms.

With the completion of Phase 2, the ORC now spans 1,749 square meters. Construction took five months, beginning in August 2024.

'A better healing journey'

"The benefits of this renovation will be spread to all those involved in surgical and medical procedures, which means that we can now elevate the level of care given to our patients and allow them to have a better healing journey," Ledesma said in her speech during the launch on Friday.

Ledesma also disclosed that MDH will soon renovate the "inside and out" of its hospital, including its facade.

"We will be undergoing major, major renovations everywhere so that we can exceed the needs of our patients. We are very much looking forward to the future," she added.

"And we are fully committed to making this transformation work so that we can truly become the hospital of choice for not only Filipinos but also international clients."

Almost a decade in the making

While ORC Phase 1 started in February 2024 and ended in July 2024, and Phase 2 was completed in five months, starting in August 2024, they were almost a decade in the making.

"Pre-Covid-19 pandemic, we were already planning this. Before 2016, there was already a plan," Dr. Alberto Roxas, MDH Medical Director, told DAILY TRIBUNE.

"There were repeated plans, revisions, and we even shelled out a huge amount [roughly P750 million] during it," Roxas said.

Dr. Roehl Salvador, head of the Surgery Department in MDH, said that the pandemic sidelined their plans.

"But because of President [Ledesma's] strong will, we marched on and now we have completed these 14 operating theaters and 12 major rooms," Salvador continued.

"This is a dream that we have had since so many, many, many years ago and we cannot even believe it, we really are so thrilled, we're so happy na this is finally to pass," Ledesma added.

With the new and advanced ORC, Salvador said, "It's also an advanced room of compassion and treatment we offer for patients."