In response to the long-overdue call to recognize and serve the country’s modern-day heroes, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital has emerged as a beacon of hope and healing. Established in 2022, it is the first of its kind in the Philippines—a government-run facility dedicated to OFWs and their dependents.
From Access to Impact: Care, Coverage, and Services
Since its opening, the hospital has provided care to over 146,000 patients, delivering more than 320,000 medical services. These include outpatient consultations, inpatient treatment, diagnostic imaging, laboratory tests, medications, electrocardiograms (ECGs), and emergency care.
According to the latest data, the hospital accommodates an average of 180 to 200 outpatients per day. Of these, approximately 75 to 80 avail of wellness services, while 120 seek care from subspecialists such as OB-GYNs, surgeons, and internal medicine physicians.
OFW Hospital Medical Center OIC Chief Patrick Louie Maglaya said patients range from returning OFWs to their qualified dependents.
“Our patients include those who have returned from working abroad, received by our repatriation unit. We also see many dependents—parents, spouses, and children of OFWs—seeking care for chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia,” he shared.
The hospital is equipped with a 50-bed level 1 infirmary, an infection control unit, and a repatriation ward that provides transitional care for returning workers. Its outpatient department hosts a full suite of services from general consultations to highly specialized clinics in cardiology, pulmonology, pediatrics, occupational medicine, and more.
Two essential programs bolster the hospital’s core: the Public Health Unit, which aligns with the Department of Health’s (DOH) calendar and implements seasonal and awareness campaigns; and the Inter-agency Medical Repatriation Assistance Program (IMRAP), a coordination platform linking the hospital to the DOH, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and overseas partners for streamlined repatriation cases.
“Eligibility is inclusive. This includes OWWA membership within two years for active OFWs. For inactives, dependents like parents, siblings, spouses, and children under 17 can also avail of services. Only a passport or valid ID is required,” Maglaya said.
Bridging Health Gaps: Mental Wellness, Technology, and Innovation
One of the most transformative services of the OFW Hospital is its mental health support, in partnership with the DOH’s Mental Health Gap program.
“We have an onboard licensed psychologist and trained nurses under the mental health program. Patients can even consult while overseas,” the medical center chief shared.
This telemedicine support bridges the psychological toll of migration with culturally sensitive mental health care.
Technological innovation is also central to the hospital operations. A digital queueing and appointment system enables scheduling up to three months in advance. The Information and Communications Technology Department manages this platform alongside ongoing efforts to digitize all medical records.
Additionally, in terms of medical service delivery, Maglaya said surgeries such as biopsies and gallbladder removals which conducted regularly, are considered among those utilizing technological innovations. Also, pap smears are processed through the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital.
The hospital is also preparing for advanced diagnostics. Plans are underway to acquire a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit and pulmonary function test technology to better screen and clear OFWs for work abroad.
A state-of-the-art heart station already offers treadmill tests and transesophageal echocardiography—key services for pre-employment and pre-surgical assessments.
Meanwhile, Maglaya stressed that collaborations underpin the hospital’s reach as it maintains strong partnerships with the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital through the National Patient Navigator Program.
“Hospitals abroad, such as in Qatar, send requests to us. With a letter of acceptance, the patient is flown to Clark Airport and brought here to receive premium care,” he explains.
The hospital also credits the provincial government of Pampanga for helping expand its local patient referral networks.
Milestones, Outreach, and Forward Plans
The OFW Hospital has achieved a series of notable milestones since it opened its doors three years ago.
As of early 2024, the facility has completed over 15,000 heart station procedures, 7,000 respiratory diagnostics, and 5,000 emergency room admissions. The outpatient department alone has served more than 150,000 patients.
A landmark shift has been the hospital’s integration into the Universal Health Care system, broadening accessibility while upholding the hospital’s core mission.
“We’ve embraced universal healthcare. Non-OFWs are also welcome. There’s no padrino system—only medical need dictates care,” the medical center chief emphasized.
Health promotion efforts of the hospital’s strategic communications group has likewise reached global audiences.
Monthly campaigns based on DOH observances, like TB Awareness Month and Mental Health Day, are live streamed on Facebook and cross-posted by the DMW to cater to OFWs abroad.
“This has actually reached organizations in Qatar and the Middle East for which they have invited OFW Hospital personnel and healthcare workers to speak in their very own societies. The last was the Integrated Institution of Electrical Engineers for which OFW Hospital collaborated as far as the Heart Health Month was concerned,” Maglaya told.
The hospital also launched its widely recognized “Repat Diaries” series. This is a powerful storytelling initiative that helps humanize the hospital’s impact. These social media-based real-life testimonials document how the facility’s services have helped OFWs recover and reconnect.
Meanwhile, the hospital chief also mentioned the Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center, which is in the pipeline and is among the flagship infrastructure projects of the current administration.
Groundbreaking for the facility began in December 2023, with plans to provide specialized oncology services for OFWs and other patients battling cancer.
“The center is envisioned as a legacy project honoring our late [DMW] Secretary Susan ‘Toots’ Ople who is an advocate of cancer care, and aims to deliver advanced cancer diagnostics and treatment,” Maglaya said.
Looking forward, the hospital is preparing to open mobile OFW clinics at key entry points and premier gateways of the country like the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport.
“This will symbolize accessibility at every point of re-entry into the country. Additionally, 200-square-meter wellness hubs are being planned within DMW offices in Makati and Quezon City to decentralize access,” Maglaya shared.
Overcoming Challenges and Upholding a Vision
The medical center chief shared that building and running the OFW Hospital, especially on a day-to-day basis, has not been without challenges.
“This hospital started with just nine employees and now we are hitting past 290 employees,” he recalled.
Maglaya added that securing plantilla positions in 2023 was a major breakthrough.
In addition, he shared that their next goal is for the laboratory to earn a Level 3 license and for the pharmacy to provide full Philippine Drug Formulary coverage.
Looking back on its first three years, Maglaya said the hospital’s leadership has drawn critical insights since its founding.
“Universal healthcare is the future. We’ve realigned everything from staffing, equipment, even pharmacy, to treat conditions like hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes,” he pressed.
When asked how the OFW Hospital is different from other public hospitals, Maglaya quipped that its unique value proposition lies in its repatriation program wherein the hospital seeks out OFWs abroad which do not have access to healthcare, or are reluctant to access healthcare as far as inpatient, outpatient and mental health programs.
“We have seen that the OFW Hospital in this aspect is a proactive healthcare service delivery program, meaning we run to the patients instead of patients going to the hospital,” he said.
A Home for Every OFW
As the hospital marks its third anniversary on May 2, it is inviting the public to participate in a simple yet meaningful celebration. Activities include a thanksgiving Mass, wellness clinics, and public health talks on mental health and the role of healthcare workers.
“There are no favorites. There is no special treatment. Everyone is invited to come to the hospital. Come and we will help you. Come and we will give you the best healthcare that we can give,” he assured. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampaga)
