Medilines recently provided state-of-the-art cancer diagnostic equipment in Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for its new Cancer Diagnostic Institute Building. SPMC, located in Davao City, is the largest tertiary Hospital under the Department of Health that is fast becoming a world-class facility and the leading provider of health care and training in Mindanao.

 

Photo of the newly constructed Cancer Diagnostic Institute Building of the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City which was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on March 25, 2022

The new modern facility is equipped with three advanced cancer diagnostic equipment – the SPECT/CT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography), PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography), and the Medical Cyclotron – which comprises the first complete cancer diagnosis package in Mindanao.

 

Biography mCT PET/CT	Symbia Intevo BOLD SPECT/CT

The Molecular Imaging modalities of Siemens Healthineers, Symbia Intevo BOLD SPECT/CT and Biograph mCT PET/CT, complete the imaging needs of the Nuclear Medicine section of the cancer institute. These advanced modalities essentially equip the facility with the most useful diagnostic and/or treatment information for many diseases. Nuclear medicine offers the potential to identify disease in its earliest stage, often before symptoms occur or abnormalities can be detected with other diagnostic tests. It enables the physicians to find, characterize and follow the development of the disease over time.

A SPECT/CT procedure, like a whole-body bone scan, is less expensive and may yield more precise information compared to invasive procedures like exploratory surgery. Once a lesion is detected, a PET/CT procedure may provide additional diagnosis on whether the lesion is benign or malignant, without the need for surgical biopsy. Additionally, both systems provide much needed information for radiotherapy planning. Having both the SPECT/CT and PET/CT within the same roof enables SPMC to deliver quality patient care that focuses on precision medicine and personalized care.

 

Sumitomo HM-20 Medical Cyclotron

Nuclear Medicine modalities requires radio pharmaceutical (also known as tracer) to image patients. SPMC does not have dependencies on the supply of radio pharmaceuticals since the facility already has the capability to produce these in-house. The SPECT/CT includes a generator for the production of the required tracers and the newly installed Sumitomo HM-20, the first medical cyclotron installed in a public hospital in the Philippines and consequently, the first in Mindanao, produces these radio pharmaceuticals for the PET/CT tracers.

The combined capabilities and application of these revolutionary technologies are critical along the clinical journey of cancer patients. With its partnership with Medilines, SPMC now has the tools to support their patients at any point in their condition – from detection and comprehension of each patient’s situation to effective and personalized treatment, therapy, monitoring, and even to restaging and follow-ups for those in remission.

Medilines has been in the forefront of cancer care as it partners with medical institutions, like SPMC, in building specialized worldclass facilities with cutting-edge technology to give Filipinos a boost in the fight against cancer.

The Cancer Diagnostic Institute Building was completed this March 2022, with Medilines providing service and support since it started its construction last October 2019.
 

Photo taken from the Southern Philippines Medical Center Grounds. From left to right: Oliver S. Perez (Siemens Healthineers Vice President), Daniel Zulueta (Medilines Distributors, Inc. General Manager), Regina Banaag (Assurance Control Technologies CEO), Christopher Mazo (Assurance Control Technologies, NSM), Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega  (Health Undersecretary/Chief of Staff, Administration and Financial Management Team), Mike Tan (Siements Healthineers President), Virgilio B. Villar (Medilines Distributors, Inc. Chairman), Renz Jervis San Andres (Medilines Distributors, Inc. Project Manager)

The diagnostic facility is worth approximately ₱529 million, with the budget coming from the Office of the President thru the Health Facility Enhancement Program of the Department of Health (DOH).

Last March 25, 2022, the SPMC Cancer Diagnostic Institute Building was inaugurated. The ceremony took place in the SPMC Grounds and was attended by the President of the Republic of the Philippines Rodrigo R. Duterte, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, DOH Undersecretary Dr. Leopoldo Vega, SPMC Medical Center Chief II Dr. Ricardo Audan, Medilines Distributors, Inc. Chairman Virgilio B. Villar, and other VIPs.