BANTAYAN, Cebu β Bantayan District Hospital has reached another milestone in its healthcare services after successfully performing its first laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or minimally invasive gallbladder removal surgery, on Wednesday, August 19.
The procedure was performed by the hospitalβs own in-house medical team using its newly acquired laparoscopic tower, allowing patients in the island community to access a more advanced surgical procedure closer to home.
The milestone comes less than a month after the hospital conducted its first laparoscopic appendectomy on July 24.
The surgical team was led by Dr. Delvin Marquez, with Dr. Pascual Gongon serving as anesthesiologist and Dr. Irnani Julius BelciΓ±a as first assistant.
The successful procedure marks another step in the continuing development of Bantayan District Hospitalβs capacity to provide specialized surgical care to residents of Bantayan and nearby island communities.
New equipment strengthens hospital services
Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan welcomed the hospitalβs latest surgical milestone, emphasizing that modern medical equipment becomes valuable when healthcare workers have the skills to use it effectively.
βNew equipment becomes truly meaningful when it is placed in the hands of capable healthcare workers and used to care for our patients. Congratulations to the doctors, nurses, operating room personnel, and the entire Bantayan District Hospital team who made this possible,β Catalan said in a Facebook post.
The availability of laparoscopic equipment allows qualified surgical teams to perform minimally invasive procedures that generally require smaller incisions compared with conventional open surgery.
For patients in island communities, having these capabilities available locally can also help reduce the need to travel to mainland hospitals for procedures that can now be performed at the district hospital.
Second major laparoscopic milestone
The gallbladder operation follows Bantayan District Hospitalβs first laparoscopic appendectomy in July.
The two procedures demonstrate the hospitalβs growing capacity to perform minimally invasive surgeries using its own personnel and equipment.
The development is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the capabilities of Cebuβs provincial and district hospitals, particularly those serving communities that face geographic and transportation challenges in accessing specialized medical care.
For island residents, the ability to receive more advanced procedures within their local hospital can mean less travel, fewer logistical challenges and potentially faster access to treatment.
DOH support helps bring specialists closer
Catalan also expressed appreciation to the Department of Health (DOH) for its support to the Cebu Provincial Government through the Post-Residency Deployment Program.
The program helps make trained medical specialists available in areas where their expertise is needed, contributing to the expansion of healthcare services outside major urban centers.
Catalan said the support helps bring trained specialists and more advanced medical services closer to island communities.
The latest procedure reflects the broader push to strengthen the provinceβs public healthcare system by improving hospital infrastructure, providing modern equipment and increasing the availability of qualified healthcare professionals.
Bantayan District Hospitalβs successful laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, performed by its own team using its own equipment, highlights the progress being made in bringing specialized healthcare services closer to Cebuanos.
Source: Dr. Elisse Nicole Catalan Facebook account
