ILOILO City – A hospital here has set a new standard in emergency stroke care, becoming the first in Iloilo to receive the prestigious Gold Status from the World Stroke Organization (WSO) Angels Awards for the first quarter of 2025.
This recognition marks a major milestone in the city’s healthcare system, underscoring The Medical City Iloilo’s adherence to international best practices in stroke management, particularly in response time, clinical protocols, and patient outcomes.
The Gold Status — second only to Platinum and Diamond under the WSO’s tiered recognition program — signals that the hospital has significantly raised the bar for acute stroke care in the region.
The recognition is also seen as a challenge to other hospitals in Western Visayas to invest in quality stroke care and adopt the WSO’s globally benchmarked clinical standards.
The Angels initiative, supported by the European Stroke Organisation and other global partners, aims to drive continuous improvement in stroke care through data-driven performance evaluations.
The Medical City Iloilo’s officials credit the award to the implementation of internationally recommended stroke protocols, including rapid CT imaging upon patient arrival and timely administration of thrombolytic (clot-busting) medication. During the award period, 17 stroke patients were treated under these stringent care pathways.
This award reflects its commitment to providing fast, evidence-based stroke care that can save lives and reduce long-term disability, the hospital said in a statement.
The improvements have not only enhanced patient survival but also reinforced TMC Iloilo’s role as a leader in emergency neurological services.
The formal awarding will take place during the Stroke Society of the Philippines Annual Convention in August, where top-performing hospitals nationwide will be honored./PN
