PANABO CITY, Davao del Norte — Efforts to reduce heart attack deaths through faster medical intervention, affordable treatment, and coordinated hospital referrals are gaining momentum in Davao del Norte, as Rivera Medical Center, Inc. (RMCI) strengthens its cardiovascular services while the Panabo City government explores additional financial assistance for patients who cannot afford specialized heart procedures.

During the Cardiovascular Summit 2026 on November 4 at Virginia’s Grand Event Hall in Panabo City, RMCI Chief Executive Officer Ramon Miguel M. Rivera, MD-MBA, FPCP, FPCC, FPSE, reported that the hospital had reduced its mortality rate associated with ischemic heart disease from approximately 28 to 31 percent to 12 percent over the past three and a half years. He attributed the improvement to the establishment of its cardiac catheterization laboratory and the implementation of emergency treatment systems designed to provide timely cardiovascular intervention. Despite the progress, Dr. Rivera acknowledged that the reported mortality rate remains high compared with international benchmarks, emphasizing the need to address delays that continue to place patients at risk.

Dr. Rivera explained that patients experiencing heart attacks frequently pass through several healthcare facilities before reaching a hospital capable of performing procedures to restore blood flow to the heart. Some patients arrive at RMCI only after visiting their third, fourth, or fifth hospital, often because they are unaware that specialized cardiovascular services are already available in Panabo City. These delays, he stressed, can result in more serious complications, prolonged hospitalization, and higher treatment expenses.

“We want to raise awareness that we are capable of doing this already,” Dr. Rivera said, underscoring the hospital’s intention to extend public awareness beyond Panabo City and reach other communities throughout Mindanao.

The two-day summit, organized by RMCI in collaboration with the Cardiovascular Institute of The Medical City, carries the theme “Cardiovascular Care Continuum: Recognition, Treatment, and Rehabilitation.” It brings together cardiovascular specialists, healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, emergency responders, local government representatives, patients, and community stakeholders to strengthen the delivery of cardiac services, particularly in areas where access to advanced medical intervention remains limited.

Raul E. Ramboyong, MD, FPCP, FPCC, Section Head of Cardiology, The Medical City, warned that heart attacks are frequently overlooked because their symptoms can resemble other medical conditions. Although chest pain remains a commonly recognized warning sign, patients may also experience discomfort in the shoulders, jaw, or back, difficulty breathing, or upper abdominal pain that can be mistaken for ulcers or respiratory illnesses. He added that certain heart attacks may not be immediately apparent on an electrocardiogram (ECG), making proper clinical assessment and additional diagnostic testing essential when symptoms suggest a cardiac emergency.

“The problem with heart attack, number one, symptoms and signs can mimic other conditions,” Dr. Ramboyong explained. “It can be shoulder pain. It can be jaw pain. It can be back pain.”

He emphasized that recognizing symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention could significantly improve a patient’s chances of survival, particularly when blocked coronary arteries require urgent intervention. Delayed treatment can cause irreversible damage to the heart muscle and increase the risk of complications, including heart failure, even after patients receive appropriate medical care.

“What we say in cardiology, time is muscle. So, the less time, the more muscle you save, the better outcomes,” Dr. Rivera said.

Financial concerns also remain a major barrier to timely cardiovascular treatment, particularly among patients who hesitate to seek care at private hospitals because of the anticipated expenses. Dr. Rivera said RMCI has adjusted its treatment charges to accommodate qualified patients under PhilHealth’s Ischemic Heart Disease- Acute Myocardial Infarction (IHD-AMI) Benefit Package, which provides up to P523,853 for eligible percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. The arrangement has allowed some patients undergoing uncomplicated procedures to receive specialized treatment without additional out-of-pocket hospital expenses.

“So, what we did, we sort of fixed our finances so that the margin of profit is not too high, so that the P523,000 fits,” Dr. Rivera explained.

“So, if it’s a simple procedure, patients go home with the PhilHealth, they don’t have to pay anything.”

He acknowledged that patients who develop complications may require additional assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other government medical assistance programs.

RMCI has also strengthened its social services support to help financially disadvantaged patients access appropriate treatment, although extended hospitalization and complicated procedures may result in expenses beyond the available benefit coverage.

The importance of affordable and accessible cardiovascular care was echoed by Acting Panabo City Mayor Engr. Franklin D. Gentiles, who disclosed that he underwent an angioplasty procedure on August 5 after medical examinations revealed significant calcium deposits in three coronary arteries.

Acting City Mayor Gentiles recounted experiencing chest discomfort despite an earlier stress test that had not indicated a heart problem, prompting him to pursue further diagnostic testing that eventually led to the discovery of his condition.

The acting mayor said he was admitted to a hospital on August 4 and discharged on August 7, allowing him to resume certain public duties shortly afterward. His experience, he explained, reinforced the importance of early detection, regular medical examinations, and timely intervention in preventing life-threatening cardiovascular complications.

“If the heart of the city fails, the city fails. And if the heart of our people fails, our future fails,” Hon. Gentiles said in his message of support during the summit. “That is why this summit is not just a medical event. This is a life-saving mission.”

Hon. Gentiles expressed concern over the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases, particularly among working-age adults exposed to unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, smoking, and stress. He emphasized that heart disease prevention should extend beyond hospitals and become part of everyday practices within households, schools, workplaces, and local communities.

“So our fight against heart disease must start not in the hospital, but in our homes, in our schools, and in our workplaces,” he said.

Recognizing the financial burden of specialized cardiac procedures, Hon. Gentiles disclosed that the city government is considering a program that would provide additional medical assistance to indigent patients requiring interventions such as angioplasty and open-heart surgery. The proposed arrangement could involve collaboration with RMCI and other healthcare institutions, combining PhilHealth benefits with financial support from the local government to potentially reduce or eliminate eligible patients’ hospital bills.

“I would like to collaborate with the Rivera Medical [Center] to help these poor people, possibly with PhilHealth and the counterpart from the city, to have also a zero billing for those who have problems,” Hon. Gentiles said, referring to patients requiring specialized cardiac procedures.

The proposal remains under consideration, with the acting mayor emphasizing the importance of allocating greater resources to healthcare services, particularly medicines and financial assistance for disadvantaged residents. He disclosed that the city government had submitted a proposed budget of approximately P2.2 billion for 2027 and expressed his intention to prioritize healthcare funding as part of the city’s continuing efforts to address preventable illnesses.

“We see that more funding must be provided for the health care services, especially the medicines,” Hon. Gentiles said.

The city government also intends to strengthen preventive healthcare programs through barangay health centers, including ensuring the availability of functioning blood pressure monitoring equipment and improving the capacity of barangay health workers to screen residents for hypertension and elevated cholesterol levels. Hon. Gentiles emphasized the importance of encouraging residents aged 30 and above to regularly monitor their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels to identify cardiovascular risk factors before serious complications develop.

“We will strengthen our campaign for a healthy lifestyle. Less salty food, less smoking, less alcohol, more exercise, more vegetables,” he said, adding that the city also intends to support community exercise activities and other initiatives promoting physical fitness.

Improving coordination among healthcare institutions likewise forms a majo...

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