The Department of Health (DoH) is accelerating the expansion of specialty centers nationwide to ensure Filipinos can access advanced medical care without having to travel to Metro Manila.

The agency said the initiative is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to decentralize specialized healthcare services and make quality treatment more accessible in the regions.

According to the DoH, the number of specialty centers has more than doubled — from 98 in 2022 to 208 today. The agency is continuing the construction and operationalization of additional centers across the provinces this year.

Health Secretary Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa said the goal is to provide every Filipino with access to specialized healthcare close to home, reducing the financial and logistical burden of traveling to the capital for treatment.

"Our objective is to make specialized healthcare accessible to every Filipino without requiring them to leave their provinces," he said.

The expansion is being carried out under the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which seeks to establish and strengthen high-quality medical facilities across the country.

Priority services include cancer care, cardiovascular treatment, lung care, renal care and kidney transplantation, brain and spine care, trauma services, and burn treatment.