Pampanga Unveils New Infectious Disease Center and Advanced Lab

A new infectious disease centre and laboratory have opened at a hospital in Pampanga. The facilities aim to improve healthcare for serious infections in Central Luzon. Provincial leaders, including Governor Lilia 'Nanay' Pineda, attended the launch event last week. The Center for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine is now fully equipped. It includes isolation wards, intensive care units, and specialised treatment rooms. Patients with severe or contagious illnesses will receive dedicated care in this new unit.

Alongside the treatment centre, the Central Luzon Infectious Disease Referral Laboratory has begun operations. The lab can test for a wide range of infections, from respiratory viruses to dengue and tuberculosis. It also handles checks for HIV, hepatitis, leptospirosis, mpox, and drug-resistant strains of TB. Governor Pineda and other provincial officials toured the facilities during the opening ceremony. Their presence highlighted the project’s importance for regional health services.

The new centre and lab will provide faster diagnosis and better treatment for infectious diseases. Residents in Central Luzon now have access to specialised care without needing to travel far. Both facilities are already accepting patients and samples for testing.