An island so remote
For years, Batanes General Hospital operated with limited diagnostic capabilities, often referring patients to other provinces an hour away by plane. This isolation led to delays in diagnosis, increased costs including travel, and emotional strain for families.
Transforming healthcare in Batanes
Today, Batanes is reshaping its healthcare landscape. With support from local doctors, government officials, and the Department of Health, the province now has advanced imaging systems—including CT Scan, mammography, mobile X-ray, and the virtually helium-free MRI. Combined with telemedicine and remote diagnostics, these technologies make quality care accessible and reliable—right on the island.
Dr. Jeffrey Antony Canceran, Medical Center Chief, shares how these innovations have empowered Batanes General Hospital to serve the over 18,000 Ivatans with precision and compassion. Patients express relief at no longer needing to travel far for care, while radiologists from Baguio highlight how remote diagnostics are bridging gaps once thought impossible.
Batanes stands as a model for remote communities across the Philippines. Its journey proves that with the right partnerships and technology, care without limits is not just a vision—it’s a reality.
“Because of the limitation of the diagnostic tools here in the island,
we have to transfer our patients. Since we don’t have an air ambulance, we use the local airline from Batanes”
