In a move to expand cancer care across Negros Occidental, the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) and Riverside Medical Center Inc. (RMCI) signed a renewed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Wednesday, July 23.
The signing ceremony took place at RMCI’s Centers of Excellence Building.
This renewed agreement significantly expands a successful partnership initiated in 2024, a CLMMRH statement on its Facebook page said.
What began as a program exclusively for breast cancer patients, benefiting approximately 108 women over the past year, will now offer radiation therapy for all types of cancer.
This expansion aims to provide essential treatment to a wider range of patients through public healthcare channels, CLMMRH said.
The collaboration between CLMMRH, a government tertiary hospital, and RMCI, a leading private healthcare institution, marks a crucial advancement in the province’s fight against cancer, it added.
It highlights the power of public-private partnerships in enhancing access to specialized medical services, particularly for vulnerable populations. This synergy between sectors is poised to bridge critical gaps in cancer care and bring life-saving interventions closer to those who need them most, CLMMRH said.
This renewed partnership exemplifies a shared vision for inclusive, patient-centered healthcare, aligning with the broader objectives of the Universal Health Care Law to ensure quality cancer services are accessible to all Filipinos, it added.
The CLMMRH delegation was led by Dr. Joan E. Cerrada, Medical Center Chief II, accompanied by Dr. Jorge Edward T. Masa, Chief of Medical Professional Staff, and Shareen Caelian, Head of the Finance Division. Also in attendance were Dr. Adonis A. Guancia, Head of the Cancer Care Center, along with various consultants and nurses.
Representing RMCI were Genesis Goldi Golingan, President and CEO; Dr. Maria Antonia Gensoli, Vice President-Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Jose Pepito Malapitan, Medical Director; and Dr. Paolo Sogono, Cancer Center Medical Director, alongside other key personnel.*