La Trinidad is a town located in the province of Benguet and is part of the mountainous Cordillera Administrative Region in the Philippines. It is known for its cool subtropical climate with a topography which cultivate vast strawberry fields as well as flower and produce farming - with what would be the municipality’s foremost agricultural fare.
With about 140,000 in population, La Trinidad’s proximity to tourist destination Baguio City, likewise, makes it a bustling town where travelers, traders, indigenous people, and its residents converge. As MRI is not widely available in the Cordillera Administrative Region other than in Baguio City, many patients would still have to travel through about 10 kilometers of narrow winding road just to get an MRI.
MRI for all
Cordillera Hospital of the Divine Grace is a not-for-profit hospital founded by two (2) practicing physicians, Dr. Virginia Biteng and Dr. Edgar Biteng who dreamt of building a facility in their hometown as a way of giving back to the people of La Trinidad through acts of service and affordable healthcare. They made it their life’s mission to make quality care accessible to patients as they gradually start a hospital from the ground up.
From its humble beginnings, the hospital now stands with 8 floors, a bed capacity of 74, and a radiology department which can provide routine diagnostic imaging – including the town’s first MRI.
Noncommunicable Diseases in the Philippines
According to the World Health Organization, about 70% of deaths in the Philippines are attributed to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)1. In 2022, data showed that ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and neoplasms were cited to be among the top three causes of death2. MR imaging is used to diagnose soft tissue and plays a central role in the early diagnosis and treatment of various diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, and orthopedic problems. MAGNETOM Free.Star makes having an MRI possible for hospitals with challenging situations through its simple yet innovative approach and design.