Dipolog City, July 6, 2025 — The Department of Health (DOH) has formally downgraded the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center (ZNMC) from a Level 2 to a Level 1 hospital due to its failure to comply with the minimum requirements for imaging facilities, a move that has serious implications for healthcare delivery in the province.
The DOH’s decision followed its annual hospital monitoring conducted on March 13–14, 2025, which found that the hospital lacked a stationary X-ray machine—an essential component for a Level 2 facility. The radiology room, which was supposed to house the equipment, had been left in a state of disrepair, with renovations long overdue.
Under Administrative Order No. 2012-0012, Level 2 hospitals are required to maintain complete imaging facilities, including a DOH-licensed mobile X-ray machine with contrast examination capability. Despite ZNMC’s submission of compliance updates and ongoing renovation efforts, the DOH recommended to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the cancellation of the hospital’s Certificate of Compliance (COC) for its X-ray machine. This recommendation was affirmed by the FDA on June 27, 2025, prompting the official issuance of the downgrade notice.
Impact on Health Services and Patients
As a result of the downgrade, ZNMC can no longer perform cranial surgeries and other critical procedures that require advanced diagnostic and surgical facilities—services that are often unavailable in Level 1 hospitals. This has raised concerns among residents, particularly those from remote municipalities who rely on ZNMC as the province’s main referral hospital.
Additionally, several PhilHealth packages exclusive to Level 2 hospitals will no longer be available. This means patients will now have to shoulder the full cost of certain procedures and services, which could have previously been reimbursed through the national health insurance program. The downgrading thus threatens to place a significant financial burden on indigent families and those already struggling with medical expenses.
“The reduction in services is not just a matter of classification; it’s a blow to the province’s capacity to deliver lifesaving interventions,” said one medical frontliner who asked not to be named. “We are deeply concerned about the patients who might now be forced to travel to neighboring provinces for critical care.”
Hospital Operations and Government Response
While ZNMC will continue operating as a Level 1 hospital, it is now required to return its previous Level 2 license and apply for a new one under the downgraded classification. Hospital officials and the local government are working to accelerate the renovation of the radiology department and install the long-delayed X-ray machine.
The said machine was purchased during the administration of former Governor Roberto Y. Uy but was neglected under the previous leadership, leaving the facility in limbo for the past three years. Governor Darel Dexter Uy, who recently assumed office, has directed the immediate completion of the renovation to bring the hospital back into full compliance with DOH standards.
Call for Accountability and Restoration
Healthcare advocates and community leaders are now calling for accountability and swift action to restore ZNMC’s full capacity. Many see the downgrade as a reflection of long-standing neglect and mismanagement that has compromised the health and safety of thousands of Zamboangueños.
“For a provincial hospital to lose its Level 2 status is unacceptable. This is not just a regulatory issue—it’s about the lives of our people,” said a resident of Dipolog City. “We need urgent intervention from both the provincial and national governments.”
As the province awaits clearer direction from hospital administrators and local officials, many remain hopeful that with political will and transparent governance, ZNMC can regain its full capacity and restore public confidence in the province’s healthcare system.