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The Beginnings of a Cooperative Hospital in Sorsogon

Way back in 1992, our group of young and energetic doctors from Sorsogon, fresh from our specialty training at the Bicol Regional hospital, decided to upgrade the existing hospital facilities available to us. Mostly young surgeons, we first decided on acquiring an anesthesia machine. Pooling our resources, we acquired one. Not long enough, our investment recovered, so we put up the Sorsogon X-ray Center. Emboldened by our success in these ventures, and restless for further endeavors, one day in one of our weekend outings, after downing bottles of coke, (not beer since half of us are allergic to alcoholic beverages) we asked ourselves, “Why don’t we put up our own hospital?”

The idea sparked enthusiasm to most of us but seems farfetched. However meetings were conducted regularly and after almost a year of “usap-usapan”, we committed ourselves to building up a hospital. On February 28, 1993, the opening of the Sorsogon Doctors Hospital which was commonly called SORDOC, as a corporation, was realized. So we pooled resources; contributions were endless, sangla dito, loan doon, lupa mo i-loan natin etc … Again, after several months of hardships, pains and apprehensions, we were able to put up a modest 18-bed capacity primary hospital. Dr. Jose Basa then, was its first Medical Director.

A cooperative hospital was farthest from our minds. One day Dr. Jose Tiongco the organizer of the first cooperative hospital in the country was invited as a guest speaker in a Cooperative Seminar conducted by Gubat St. Anthony Credit Cooperative (GSACC) chaired by Atty. Ruben Paps, in Gubat, Sorsogon. Our doctors as well, attended said seminar as guests. Inspired by his ideas and achievements, almost all were sold out to the idea of a cooperative hospital. An invitation was also made to Dr. Tiongco to further enlighten us on the scheme, and he gladly obliged.

Brought by the increase on occupancy and demand for an affordable and quality health care delivery system, the construction of Sorsogon MMG Hospital was started on September 10, 2002 at Pangpang, Sorsogon City. We became operational in November 28, 2003, with almost 65% of our building construction completed.

At present, we operate an 80-bed capacity tertiary hospital located at Maharlika Highway, Pangpang, Sorsogon City. Acquisition of stress testing and C-arm equipment were also some of our priorities. The continued development on the physical structure of our cooperative hospital is evidenced by the completion of the second floor with additional rooms that will cater and house the influx of patients. With the modern facilities we have, innovative health services implemented, professional medical staff employed, and, our health care financing scheme offered through the Cooperators’ Health Program (CHP), SMMG’s recognition as the most responsive, affordable tertiary hospital in the City of Sorsogon will remain unparalleled. As we share the vision that we can further serve the marginalized majority by this cooperative spirit, until then …. When health is no longer a burden to the greater majority, our social responsibility is never done.