St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City has made history as the first and only PhilHealth-accredited healthcare facility in the Philippines to successfully perform a mitral valve replacement under the Z Benefit Package—offering new hope to patients battling critical heart conditions.

The milestone procedure was performed on a 64-year-old female patient diagnosed with Rheumatic Heart Disease and severe mitral stenosis. Through the support of the PhilHealth Z Benefit Package, the patient received the life-saving operation at minimal cost, reinforcing St. Elizabeth Hospital’s mission to provide advanced medical care that is both accessible and compassionate.

The success of the procedure was made possible by an outstanding multidisciplinary team:

• Dr. Edwin Valencia, Dr. Darwin Corpuz, Dr. Jaysum Ligue, and Dr. Kim De Los Reyes – Cardiothoracic Surgeons

• Dr. Ralph Philip Anislag – Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist

• Dr. Anna Lorraine Lucero – Interventional Cardiologist

Their collective expertise, precision, and compassion enabled the patient’s renewed chance at life and recovery.

This achievement affirms St. Elizabeth Hospital’s commitment to bridging advanced medical interventions with community needs. By pioneering the implementation of PhilHealth’s Z Benefit Package for mitral valve replacement, the hospital continues to redefine what accessible, high-quality cardiac care looks like for Filipinos—especially those most in need.