ILOILO – Specialized molecular diagnostic services are now available within Iloilo province after the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) in Pototan town opened its first molecular pathology laboratory, a development expected to speed up the detection of major diseases and spare patients the cost of seeking tests outside the province.
The new facility became operational after IPH secured a license to operate from the Department of Health (DOH), marking what hospital officials described as a major step in strengthening the province’s healthcare system and expanding access to advanced laboratory testing for Ilonggos.
“Through these developments, Iloilo Provincial Hospital continues its mission of advancing healthcare services and improving the well-being of the people of Iloilo,” the hospital said in a statement.
The molecular pathology unit is the first facility in the province capable of performing advanced laboratory diagnostics used for early detection and monitoring of serious illnesses.
Among the services now offered are MTB/RIF testing for tuberculosis, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) viral load testing, HIV CD4 count, and PHV DNA testing. The tests are conducted on scheduled runs to ensure efficiency and maintain quality laboratory standards.
Hospital officials said the new service builds on the COVID-19 laboratory established at IPH in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. At the time, the facility conducted thousands of tests and operated seven days a week to support the province’s testing and diagnosis needs.
The hospital’s existing facilities, equipment, and trained personnel from the pandemic response laboratory are now being utilized to support the expanded molecular pathology services.
With the new capability, patients across Iloilo province can access crucial diagnostic tests more quickly while avoiding the additional expense and inconvenience of traveling to laboratories outside the province./PN
