HISTORY OF TARLAC PROVINCIAL HOSPIAL
The Tarlac Provincial Hospital was established in 1923, in a converted and remodeled building (Tarlac High School) about half a kilometer away from the town proper, the first Provincial Hospital created under Republic Act No. 2114 as amended by Act No. 3168. The The 30 bed bed hosp hospit ital al whic which h funct functio ione ned d pure purely ly as a serv servic icee hosp hospit ital al was was form formal ally ly inaugurated on January 23, 1924 with Dr. Alfonso C. Concepcion, of Camiling, Tarlac, a resident physician of Baguio Hospital was the first Chief of Hospital. In 1935, two additional wings, the private pavilion and the surgical pavilion were constructed. After eleven years of existence, the bed capacity was increased to sixty five beds. With the admission of pay patients, the income of the hospital increased. With provincial and muni munici cipal pal aids aids,, and some some dona donati tion ons, s, the the Inst Instit itut utio ion n was was able able to serv servee the the peopl peoplee continuously, up to the out-break of o f World War II.
During the occupation (Japanese), the Hospital was divided into three units, to be closer to the people, since transportation was scarce. The First Unit was set up in Camiling, Tarlac with Dr. Alfonso Concepcion as Head of the Unit; the second unit was set up in Paniqui, Tarlac with Dr. Eleazar Rivera as Officer – in – Charge.
These units remained in their respective stations until the American Forces Liberated Tarlac, Tarlac on January 20, 1945. The Hospital resumed its operations at the former Tarlac Provincial Hospital building, immediately after the Americans left the building. Surplus equipment and medicines came in handy when the Commonwealth Government author authorize ized d the Healt Health h Departm Department ent to draw draw suppli supplies es at the Americ American an Depot Depot in San Fernando, La Union.
In 1953, the F.O.A. gave substantial aid in the form of necessary equipment, including XRay units, operating tables, etc. With the new equipment and additional financial aid, the authorized bed capacity was further increased to one hundred beds.
Dr. Alfonso C. Concepcion, Chief of Hospital, after continuous service from 1924 to 1955, retired. Dr. Trinidad C. Esguerra took over. With the initiative of the Chief of Hospital, a new building at an approximated cost of a million pesos gradually rose from the horizon of a 9.074 hectare piece of land, By the time at would completed it could hold around, one hundred fifty beds for its minimum bed capacity and expandable to three hundred beds. It was designed after modem hospitals in the United States. In 1962, the new building was completed with a “t” configuration. The North-South wing is a one level concrete structure and is occupied by the Administrative Department, Out-Patient department, and the dietary Services. The East West portion is a three level structure which is occupied by the different clinical services. The building is also provided with elevator shaft for future use. Located at the back of the hospital are the Maintenance, Laundry, Linen and electrical generator. From 1962 to the present, other buildings were constructed to augment the needs of the hospital.
The Chief of Hospital and the different Department Heads are provided with quarters within the hospital compound; likewise other hospital personnel can avail themselves a dormitory.
The completion of the new building, and the implementation of modern methods of hospital service will add more to the eligibility of the Tarlac Provincial Hospital as a training, teaching and tertiary hospital. At the start of fiscal year 1962-1963, it assumed the above status and was able to start admitting resident physicians, affiliate nurses, midwives, x-ray and laboratory students from affiliate schools in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.
In 1966 Dr. Trinidad C. Esguerra retired from the service and Dr. Sotero B. Torralba, Jr. succeeded him as Chief of Hospital. Yearly additional new scientific and technical equipment and instruments were given by the National Government and the authorized bed capacity was increased from one hundred fifty beds in 1974, to two hundred beds. In the same manner additional buildings were constructed to wit:
1969, Power House, Maintenance Building and Laundry Area
1970 – Guard House & Waiting Shed
1974 – Extension of OB & Gyne; Intensive Care, Coronary Care Unit, Official quarters
1975 – Male and Female Dormitory; Basketball & Volleyball Courts, Badminton and Pelota Courts
1976 – C O H Quarters and Official Cottage Male and Female D ormitory
1977 – Nutrition/Rehabilitation Ward
1985 – Outpatient Department and Provincial Warehouse
Extension of Hospital Wards; Construction of garbage house and covered walk 1989; Extension of Conference Rooms, Medical Records, Laboratory, Repair of fence and Construction of drainage.
In 1978, Dr. Sotero B. Torralba was transferred to Baguio General Hospital and Dr. Briccio Y. Pobre became the Chief of Hospital.
In 1983, public health and hospital services were integrated. The Provincial Health Office now is made up of a public health section and a hospital health service component. The Tarlac Provincial Hospital became a part of the Provincial Health Office, hospital tighter with the District and Medicare Hospitals.
In 1988-1990, the Tarlac Provincial Hospital was one of the few hospitals in the Philippines that was included in the hospital upgrading project by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA), as a result of which, it was a recipient of more and new scientific and technical hospital equipment and instruments.
In the last quarter of 1993 punlic health service and the hospitals in the province including the Tarlac Provincial Hospital were oficialy devolved to the Provincial Government of Tarlac and are now under the direct supervision and control both administratively and financially by the Provincial Government in compliance with Local Government Code of 1991 (R.A. 7160)
1995 – Center for Mother and Child Health Building.
In 1994, Dr. Ricardo P. Ramos succeeded Dr. Manuel Yambao, who retired. When he was appended Provincial Health officer II, Dr. Herminia Castaneda became the Chief of Hospital. Dr. Ludwigo Santos, former Chief of the Concepcion District Hospital succeeded Dr. Castaneda upon for retirement. When Dr. Santos resigned as Provincial Health Officer I and Chief of Hospital, Dr. Solidad H. Veloso succeeded him as Chief of Tarlac Privincial Hospital.
Upon the retirement of Dr. Veloso up to the present Dr. Ricardo Ramos is the Chief of Hospital.
