Feature Story by Tranie Gatil
The fight for basic healthcare has always been a battle against the clock. For too long, citizens have endured the familiar, frustrating ritual: waking before dawn, traveling hours, only to join a seemingly endless queue hoping to see one of the area’s few physicians.
One doctor in every 1000 citizens remains the ideal ratio. Samar Island however, and the Eastern Visayas as a whole, only has about one doctor in every 4000 population. With a census nearing two million, Samar Island desperately needs nearly 2,000 doctors to meet its basic health requirements.
This reality may not be too far off.
Making a Difference
Sharing this aspiration, Samar State University pioneered the first Medical school in the province. The Samar Island Institute of Medicine (SIIM), was formalized by a pre-feasibility study in 2020, outlining the urgent need for medical professionals in the region. By 2024, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) gave a nod to operate the Doctor of Medicine program, the 20th in the Philippines.
As an institute that leads in responsiveness, innovation and excellence in medical education, SIIM aims to produce globally competitive medical doctors who can be primary care physicians for the Samar Island and Eastern Visayas region.
Now in its second year, the institute has accepted 25 medical students, adding to the 37 second year students. While acceptance in med school is a feat in itself, keeping yourself in and fighting the academic rigors is a different story. A key component of the SIIM’s approach is its commitment to technology and hands-on training.
Towards Community-centered Healthcare
Adopting community-based learning, Dr. Noel Espallardo and the SIIM faculty routinely visits Barangay Bunuanan to conduct health seminars, basic consultations and interactive learning facilitated by medical students.
Real-world experience is crucial in medical education, as highlighted by Dr. Espallardo. It builds confidence, develops essential clinical skills, and deepens understanding of the social and ethical dimensions of medicine.
On top of classwork, it is through hands-on interaction that students are able to apply theoretical knowledge to real life situations and understand the practical realities of patient interaction, decision-making, and teamwork.
It takes a village
Ensuring that future doctors of Samar have the necessary resources for their studies, SSU has been consistent in providing medicine books for the students. This initiative has been taken to ease the financial burden of med school.
In full support to the medical education in the province, the Provincial Government of Samar provided tablets to all students and cheques to the scholars of Samar Makabagong Doktor (MD) Program – an initiative of the Provincial Government covering full tuition and miscellaneous fees of medical students.
“I have long prayed for us to have a medical institution that is accessible to our aspiring doctors, especially one that is in the Province of Samar. I am sure that we are capable of producing home-grown doctors and specialists who have the heart to serve their fellow Samarnons,” Samar Province Governor Sharee Ann Tan expressed.
The university, with the provincial government and the community, collaborates to provide both theory, technology and practical learning experience towards a responsive, and community-centered future healthcare provider.
Making dreams possible
Before becoming a medical student, Leonilo Lazarra, has already made peace with not pursuing med school. “Bisan diri ma-pursue an medicine, nakag study ako han intricacies han human biology” (even if I can’t pursue medicine, I still studied the intricacies of human biology), he reasoned, being a BSEd – Biological Sciences graduate.
After graduating, he settled into his ESL career, and the medical dream faded into the background, replaced by new, more practical goals.
Then, SIIM-SSU opened its doors. On a moonshot, “try ko la. Besides, waray man mawawara,” (I’ll just try. Besides, there’s nothing to lose.), as he took the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT).
When the announcement came that he was not only a qualified applicant but also a full scholar, it sent waves of joy through his family. “Everybody in the family already accepted the fact that, due to financial constraints, medical school seems like it’s not a practical option,” he explains. “Pero when I was accepted with full scholarship, all the more that we’ve rejoiced.”
#Medskul has always been his default dream, growing up to a Barangay Health Worker (BHW) parent. “Seeing her dedication to serve others without expecting anything in return, even if it would cost her time, effort, energy, and even her own expenses, I am inclined to believe that my mother is my greatest motivation,” he says.
Now a second-year medical student, Leonilo is being shaped by a curriculum he feels is designed to fulfill that very purpose. He speaks of the school’s dean, Dr. Espallardo, who constantly reminds them to be “doctors not just for the heart but with a heart.”
A healthy future
Establishing SIIM is a multi-sectoral effort to achieve a future where Samarnons can easily access healthcare when needed. By the fourth year of its operation, the institute eyes to accommodate more than a 100 medical students. Based on the world health standards, it may take time to produce the ideal number of doctors. It`s still a long way to go, but we’ve already come so far. Malayo pa, pero malayo na.
With the SSU-SIIM fully on the roll, Samar Island`s future looks healthy. One day, no family will have to endure long queues to avail basic health service. One day, Samar Island will meet its ideal doctor-to-population ratio. One day, healthcare will live true to its mandate – a basic human right for all.
One day.