• The Bicol Medical Center (BMC) in Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City is a 500-bed government tertiary hospital under the direct supervision of Department of Health Center for Health Development – Bicol, Legazpi City. It is a non-profit institution and one of the 13 medical centers under the National Government.
• The BMC complex is composed of a 5.38-hectare main hospital compound in Naga City and a 32-hectare open Psychiatric Ward in Cadlan, Pili, the then Don Susano J. Rodriguez Memorial Mental Hospital.
• Its history dates back to 1933. BMC started as a 25-bed provincial hospital housed in a rented vintage Spanish residential house at then Mabini Street, now Peñafrancia Avenue. Facilities were extremely inadequate that the hospital was closed in 1936. The Camarines Sur Provincial Government then subsidized a private hospital owned by the late Dr. Arsenio Imperial to fill the need for a provincial hospital but admissions were limited.
• The year 1940 marked a milestone in the annals of the health care program in Camarines Sur. The blueprint of the present hospital was finalized that year and construction began. A sprawling 150,000-square-meter- 1-story-hospital-building was finished in 1941 but the Japanese invaded during World War II and the hospital never got to be inaugurated. It was looted by both Japanese soldiers and Filipino opportunists leaving the building completely bare. Nevertheless, the hospital operated through sheer determination and perseverance of its staff amidst hardship, insurmountable obstacles and grave danger. The hospital was in full operation when it was converted into barracks for the Japanese. It therefore became target for American bombing and the hospital eventually was in ruins.
• Under the auspices of the Philippine Civilian Affair Unit of the American Government, the hospital managed to rise again in 1945. Facilities were scarce and beds were made from available materials-the native bamboo.
• In 1946-1947, the Institution became a recipient of the United States Reparation Forces for damages wrought by the war. Facilities were improved and the hospital bed capacity was increased from 25 to 50 and then 75.
• In 1949, Chief of Hospital Dr. Ricardo de Castro resigned in the immediate post-war era. Dr. Salvador Ibanez under whose term buildings were put up succeeded him. These were the Chief's Quarters, Resident Physician's Quarters, Nurses' Dormitory, Hospital Garage and the Laundry building.
• In 1955, the first Nursing School in Bicol, the University of Nueva Caceres School of Nursing, affiliated with the hospital. There was much to be done, Dr. Vicente Trinidad became Vice – Chief to Dr. Ibanez.
• The Out – Patient Department Building was constructed in 1959. The hospital continued to grow and the hospital bed capacity was also increased to 100 in the same year. The hospital was upgraded and authorized to operate on a 150-bed capacity in 1961. A Polio Department was constructed which eventually housed the Medical Ward. Care and treatment of mental patients on an out-patient basis was also provided for, although management was then under the direct supervision of the National Mental Hospital.
• In 1970, the affiliation of the different schools of nursing and midwifery was approved and medical interns were accepted. This facilitated upgrading of the hospital bed capacity to 200. More construction ensued for the Pay and Medicare patients annex with the release of P1 million pesos by the Ministry of Public Works and Highways in 1975. The Pay Medical, Obstetrical and Pediatric patients including the Veterans and Medicare patients were transferred to the then quite unfinished quarter-portion of the new building by 1977. Simultaneously, the following were also constructed: the Administrative Officer's Quarters, power house, metal water tank and the Pay Building for Contagious Diseases while the laundry building and Nurses' dormitory underwent renovation.
• In 1978, the hospital was designated the Provincial Hospital of Camarines Sur. Thorough face-lift programs like beautification of the premises and intensive cleanliness drive were implemented. Enforcement of personnel discipline and enhancement of training programs also ensued. In 1979, a year later, the hospital bed capacity was further augmented to 250-beds.
• Thereafter, it was the Regional Training and Teaching Hospital although official designation was not until April 27, 1992 when President Corazon Aquino signed RA 7454. There was no corresponding increase in its appropriation. Moreover, the integration of Don Susano J Rodriguez Memorial Mental Hospital (DSJRMMH), a 200-bed hospital in Cadlan, Pili as part of the Regional Teaching and Training Hospital in 1984 now increased the total hospital bed complement to 450. This resulted to budgetary constraints and shortage of personnel, limited equipment and infrastructure outlays.
• With implementation of EO No. 851 which called for integrated health and hospital services, a provincial hospital in Camarines Sur distinct from the designated regional hospital was necessary. There being none, the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) also assumed its former role of provincial hospital in Camarines Sur and continued to do so.
• However, as BRTTH, inspite upgraded facilities and trained health care workers, there was need for a well-equipped tertiary hospital where the poor and disadvantaged may seek medical consult and treatment that otherwise may be only available in Manila.
• In June 15, 1995, during the incumbency of President Fidel Ramos, RA No. 8053 lapsed into law. With an additional 50 more bed capacity, Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital was now the Bicol Medical Center with bed capacity for 500. It was also in the same year that the Center was designated as Center for Wellness.
• As Center for Wellness, BMC took the lead in integrating and strengthening the preventive, promotive, rehabilitative and restorative aspects of health care through the Primary Health Care approach. A well integrated hospital service that included preventive and promotive health program and activities was seen as the most effective way of providing quality health services to the people of Camarines Sur and the Bicol Region.
• In 1996, BMC was given authority to use its income to purchase drugs and medicines. For manpower, 24 casual positions were made regular, increasing manpower to 420. Additional 48 positions were granted in 1997, further increasing manpower to 468.
• In 1998, three (3) more positions were added under the National Voluntary Blood Donations Program. Authorized manpower was now 471. At present manpower is at 543. Nevertheless, this manpower is only 63% of the standard requirement for a 300-bed-capacity medical center.
BMC: Current Reality
• To date, BMC has 11 major clinical departments namely: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics – Gynecology, Pediatrics, Pathology, Anesthesia, Orthopedics, ENT, Rehabilitation Medicine, Ophthalmology and Psychiatry. The first 6 major departments have residency training programs accredited by their respective specialty societies. The Center has a strong complement of competent Medical staff with sub-specialty training in Allergy and Immunology, Ambulatory Pediatrics, Cardiology, Colorectal Surgery, Critical Care Medicine, Dermatology, Diabetology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Head and Neck and Cancer Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Neurology, Neuro-surgery, Neonatology, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Hematology, Perinatology, Trophoblastic Diseases, Kidney Transplant Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Rehabilitation Medicine, Toxicology, Tropical Diseases and Hygiene, Gyne – Oncology, Urology, Pediatric Dentistry and Infectious Diseases.
• Among the available ancillary services are: good and reliable blood banking, clinical microscopy and chemistry lab, bacteriology lab, ultrasound, 2-D echocardiography, X-ray services, dialysis, ECG, EEG capable, Histologic Pathology lab and drug testing. The DOH-Botica at BMC also opened its counter to clients in 2003.
• The Center remains to be a leader in the health care sector in the entire Bicol Region. With a stable of consultant staff competent in their respective field of expertise to steer the residency training programs, the Center has fanned out many of its graduates to different areas in the region, who are now leaders themselves in their respective locale. A handful has also gone into further sub-specialty training. The Center has been a recipient of awards, such as the “Outstanding Agency in the Field of Government Personnel Administration and Management for Region V” for the calendar years 2001 and 2002. In 2003, the Center was Hall of Fame Awardee receiving the Excellence Award in the same category.
