On Tuesday, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) celebrated the opening of its very first dialysis center in Lanao del Sur—a major step forward in making healthcare more accessible to the people of Muslim Mindanao. For the first time, residents of Lanao del Sur can access life-saving dialysis treatment without leaving the province.
The facility, located at the Dr. Serapio B. Montañer Jr. Al-Haj Memorial Hospital in Malabang, is equipped with 10 dialysis machines and a range of other upgraded medical services. It was developed under the Health Facility Enhancement Program.
"A Dream Come True" for Bangsamoro
“This is a realization of a dream come true, a pride of the Bangsamoro region,” said Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr., BARMM’s Minister of Health, during the inauguration ceremony. For years, patients suffering from kidney disease had to travel long distances for treatment. Now, they can receive care in their own community.
The upgraded hospital doesn’t just offer dialysis. It also now houses new units for stroke care, microbiology, and public health—services that are often out of reach in rural areas.
From Small Clinic to Regional Hospital
Dr. Hanipah Madale-Montañer, the hospital’s chief, reflected on how far the facility has come. What started in 1981 as a small 10-bed emergency clinic has grown into a 150-bed Level 1 hospital, thanks in large part to support from PhilHealth and the BARMM government.
“This hospital is the product of decades of hard work and strong partnerships,” Madale-Montañer said.
Strengthening Health Systems Across the Region
The dialysis center is just one part of BARMM’s wider push to improve healthcare access across the region. In March, the Ministry of Health delivered over PHP62 million worth of equipment and resources to public hospitals—including ambulances and financial grants for medical services.
