Improving health services at the San Pedro Hospital in Davao City
Published on
17 January 2023
The San Pedro Hospital is a critical resource for the population of Davao City in the Philippines. The city, which is the largest on the island of Mindanao, only has nine hospital beds for every 10,000 people and that number is even lower in other parts of the island. These scarce healthcare services are further strained by conflict, natural disasters, and a high prevalence of conditions such as tuberculosis, dengue, and now COVID-19.
Founded in 1948 by the Dominican Sisters of the Trinity and still operated by the religious congregation, San Pedro Hospital is an essential lifeline for the thousands of patients that seek its services every year. Unfortunately, its emergency room, equipped with only seven beds, is limited in its capacity to receive patients in a safe and comforting environment. The Department of Health assessment concluded that it does not meet its requirements for a basic emergency complex.
The hospital, which was also hindered by a lack of funding due to the COVID-19 pandemic, received an additional boost at the end of the year, with emergency support in the amount of $3.9 million. This aid is aimed to help cover the costs of equipment and staff salaries, so that the hospital could continue to provide care to some of the poorest people in the region.
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