ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) just reached a new milestone in healthcare.

The Maguindanao Provincial Hospital has officially been upgraded to a Level III facility and renamed the Bangsamoro Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) — the first of its kind in the region.

BARMM Minister of Health Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr. said the upgraded hospital now has a 350-bed capacity and an initial P50-million budget, with a total of P1.6 billion in phased funding set aside for infrastructure expansion and staff development.

The hospital currently has more than 200 permanent personnel and 400 job order workers, all trained to provide specialized and inclusive care.

For Dr. Sinolinding, this transformation goes beyond infrastructure — it’s a dream realized for the Bangsamoro people.

“The real winners here are the people, especially the poor,” he said. “Even the poorest of the poor can now access medical services without worrying about money.”

Having served as a doctor at the old Maguindanao Provincial Hospital from 1991 to 2001, Sinolinding shared how he witnessed the community’s growing need for better medical care.

“We’ve expanded from 200 to 350 beds because the demand keeps growing,” he said. “This upgrade means patients no longer have to travel to Davao, Cagayan, or Zamboanga for specialized treatment.”

Today, BRHMC offers a wide range of services — including dialysis, eye and ENT care, laparoscopic and neurosurgery, orthopedic surgeries, and more.

Its chief of Hospital, Dr. Mohammad Ariff Baguindali, highlighted the hospital’s “zero-billing policy,” ensuring that no patient is turned away due to lack of funds.

“We encourage everyone to become active PhilHealth members so we can sustain our operations,” he said.

Beyond being a modern medical facility, BRHMC also prides itself on being “Ibadah-friendly” — respectful of religious practices and cultural sensitivities.

“We are not just building a hospital,” Baguindali said. “We are creating a sanctuary for healing.”