MANILA, Philippines - The National Heart Institute started out as a dream in 2008 by dedicated pioneers in the cardiovascular arena. Their goal was to provide better, newer, and more accessible cardiovascular care throughout the Philippines as well as provide well-trained cardiologists with the necessary equipment to perform life-saving procedures, within the comfort of their own hometown.
Today, that is no longer just a dream.
In 2010, the very first National Heart Institute was established at Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City, Pampanga. With better patient care through better cardiovascular care as their top priority, the visionaries set out to install a complete cardiac suite composed of a cardiac catheterization laboratory, a dedicated cardiovascular operating room, and a coronary care unit, and partner with key medical institutions located in nearby or identified provinces.
Alongside the installation, all qualified doctors in the region were invited to use these same facilities to help provide better patient care. Headed by Dr. Edgardo Timbol, doctors in Pampanga and nearby provinces were invited to experience the new cardiac suite at AUF-National Heart Institute. The following year, the National Heart Institute expanded its reach in the Southern Tagalog region, partnering with the Mary Mediatrix Medical Center. NHI took the lead by providing the necessary tools and machines needed for a complete cardiac suite.
Today, the MMMC-National Heart Institute, headed by Dr. Romulo Rosita, is busy performing heart-saving procedures.
This year, NHI’s most recent cardiac suite installation is at the CUMC in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. With a few procedures under its belt, the cardiac suite is set to open before the end of the month.