DOH upgrades OFW Hospital to Level 2

The Department of Health has accredited the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital as a Level 2 hospital, allowing it to expand its authorized bed capacity to 72 from 50 under its previous Level 1 classification and to operate one Type 2 ambulance.

OFW Hospital Officer-in-Charge and Medical Center Chief Patrick Louie Maglaya said the upgrade marks a major milestone in the government’s effort to improve healthcare services for migrant workers and their families.

He said the DOH Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau has issued the Level 2 License to Operate, enabling the hospital to offer more comprehensive and specialized medical services.

“These medical services include an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), operating and delivery rooms, pharmacy services, radiology, computed tomography (CT) scan, heart station, and lung station,” Maglaya said.

He explained that the hospital initially operated as a Level 1 infirmary similar to DOH district hospitals, which focused mainly on basic and primary healthcare.

“Ang Level 1 ay kadalasang walang ICU at limitado ang serbisyo, ngunit malaking tulong pa rin ito sa primary healthcare. Ngayon ay iniakyat na sa Level 2 ang OFW Hospital kung saan mayroon na tayong ICU at special care units para matugunan ang mas komplikadong mga kaso,” Maglaya said.

Maglaya added that the hospital’s long-term goal is to reach Level 3 status by 2027, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

“Ang Level 3 ay may research at training kung saan ang mga doktor ay nagasasanay na sa ating mga ospital para makapag-pa-graduate ng mga lisensyadong doktor sa kanilang mga specialty,” he said.

As part of its expanded services, the OFW Hospital is also strengthening access to healthcare beyond its main facility through the Sigla Wellness Center initiative.

Maglaya said clinics have already opened at the Department of Migrant Workers Building in Makati, with additional sites planned at the DMW Central Office in Ortigas and the National Reintegration Center along Agham Road. These clinics will allow OFWs to access healthcare services without traveling to Pampanga.

In preparation for its expanded services and the planned establishment of a Cancer Care Center and dialysis services, the hospital has also intensified its blood donation drive in partnership with the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital and the Philippine Blood Network.

“Sa nakalipas na dalawang taon, nakaipon tayo ng mahigit 400 bags ng dugo at nakatulong ito sa humigit-kumulang 60 hanggang 70 pasyente na nangangailangan ng blood transfusion,” Maglaya said.

Among the hospital’s short-term priorities is strengthening its role in conducting health assessments to ensure OFWs are physically and mentally fit before deployment overseas.

The OFW Hospital is also coordinating with other DOH hospitals nationwide to strengthen OFW wards and expand healthcare access, while wellness clinics are being planned in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, including in airport lounges.

Maglaya stressed that the OFW Hospital remains open to serve OFWs and their families, adding that emergency cases involving non-OFWs are not refused in compliance with the Universal Healthcare Law.

“Sa mga OFWs, ito ang inyong ospital at tahanan ng inyong kalusugan. Bukas po ito hindi lamang para sa inyo kundi pati para sa inyong pamilya,” he said.