LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — In a major breakthrough for regional healthcare, the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) officially inaugurated the region’s first Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) on Monday, May 11, 2026. The specialized facility is designed to provide immediate, world-class intervention for stroke patients, effectively ending the long-standing need for Bicolanos to travel to Metro Manila for emergency neurological care.
The unit serves as a centralized hub where medical teams can fight the “race against the clock” to minimize brain damage during the critical early hours of a stroke.
The primary goal of the ASU is to provide treatment within the four-hour “golden window” after the onset of stroke symptoms.
- Thrombolytic Therapy: The unit is equipped to administer “clot-busting” medication (thrombolysis) which, if given in time, can reverse symptoms such as loss of speech and paralysis.
- Specialized Monitoring: Unlike a regular ICU or ward, the ASU provides 24/7 intensive monitoring specifically for stroke patients. This allows the medical team to detect side effects immediately and adjust treatment in real-time.
- PhilHealth Support: Thrombolysis treatment at the facility is covered under the PhilHealth stroke package for qualified patients, making life-saving care accessible to more Bicolanos.
BRHMC Chief Dr. Eric Raymond Raborar described the unit as a “specialized ecosystem” rather than just a collection of equipment.
- Capacity: The unit currently operates with a four-bed capacity. Plans are already in place to expand this once the hospital’s new building is completed in October 2026.
- The “Brain Attack Team” (BAT): The facility is manned by a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, including neurologists, emergency physicians, and specially trained nurses.
- Community Training: To ensure patients reach the hospital in time, BRHMC is launching a program to train barangay health workers and local transport systems on how to recognize the “BFAST” (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of a stroke.
For years, the Bicol region lacked a specialized acute stroke facility, despite stroke being one of the top three causes of death in the area.
- Logistical Relief: Patients previously had to endure 8 to 12-hour ambulance rides to Manila, often missing the critical treatment window.
- Local Support: During the inauguration, Legazpi City Mayor Hisham Ismail pledged ₱500,000 in financial support for the facility, emphasizing its role in providing “closer, easier, and faster” services for the city’s residents.
Coinciding with the launch, hospital officials also issued an advisory to the public regarding the current extreme heat. They noted that the ongoing El Niño and high heat indices (which recently hit the “Danger” category in parts of Luzon) can trigger cardiovascular complications, including heat stroke and traditional stroke events.
“This is not just a collection of blueprints and equipment. It is a specialized ecosystem designed to ensure that no Bicolano has to travel far for world-class medical care.” — Dr. Eric Raymond Raborar, BRHMC Medical Center Chief.