DAVAO CITY — The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has strongly denied viral social media claims alleging that the government hospital would refuse or limit medical services to patients based on their political stance regarding the ongoing impeachment issue.
The controversy erupted after several netizens posted politically charged statements online suggesting that patients from provinces and cities whose representatives allegedly supported impeachment proceedings should no longer be accommodated at SPMC.
One viral post stated:
“Dear SPMC, pls refrain from accepting patients from nearby provinces and cities nga nag YES sa impeachment and ihungit sila sa ilang congressman instead.”
Another social media user posted:
“Kitang taga Davao del Sur og magpa hospital ta sa SPMC dli ta mamatay satong sakit mamatay tas KAULAW.”
The posts quickly circulated online, triggering confusion and concern among patients and residents who rely on the state-run hospital for specialized medical care.
In response, SPMC released an official statement categorically denying the allegations and emphasizing that the hospital remains non-partisan and committed to serving all Filipinos equally.
“Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) strongly clarifies that the circulating information claiming that the hospital will refuse or limit services to certain patients based on political issues or affiliations is completely false and misleading,” the hospital management said.
SPMC stressed that it continues to operate under the mandate of the Department of Health as a healthcare institution that provides medical services regardless of political affiliation, beliefs, or geographic origin.
“Healthcare must never be politicized,” the statement added.
The hospital also underscored the commitment of its doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers to uphold equal access to quality healthcare for every patient.
“Our doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers continue to uphold the principle that every patient deserves equal access to quality medical care,” SPMC said.
The management further urged the public to exercise caution in sharing unverified information online and encouraged citizens to rely only on official announcements released through the hospital’s authorized communication channels.
SPMC is one of the largest government hospitals in Mindanao and serves thousands of patients from across the region, including neighboring provinces seeking specialized treatment and emergency medical services.