# Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital

The Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital (DJNRMH), formerly known as Central Luzon Sanitarium, and also called as the Tala Leprosarium, was established in 1940, to accommodate patients with Hansen's Disease in the entire Luzon region in the Philippines. It is currently situated within the district of Tala, in Caloocan, Metro Manila, and occupies 130 hectares (320 acres) of land area, from the original 808 hectares (2,000 acres). The reduction of land area was to accommodate previous homeless treated patients who eventually settled and established their own community, called Tala.
In 1970, the hospital began treating general medical cases (non-Hansen disease patients) when there was a high success rate of treatment of the first Hansen patients from research and the advancement of procedures done within the current medical practice. Due to the significant drop of Hansen patients the hospital then considered admission of general cases.
The hospital currently serves as the principal referral hospital for leprosy patients and the premier training and research center for leprosy care and management in the Philippines. It also serves the public health needs of community members of Tala and nearby areas.

## Services

| Out patient care | Orthopedic care - The Department of Orthopedics of DJNRMHS is manned by 20+ strong consultant staff, all Fellows of the Philippine Orthopedic Association, and Diplomate passers of the Philippine Board of Orthopedics. Services include General Orthopedics, long bone fractures, joint dislocations, hand and microvascular surgery, hip and knee arthritis and joint replacement, spine surgery and endoscopic spine surgery, Pediatric orthopedics, Ilizarov reconstruction and bone lengthening, sports injuries and ligament tear surgery, shoulder surgery, foot and ankle surgery, orthopedic musculoskeletal tumor/oncology and limb-sparing surgery, pelvic and advanced trauma surgery. The department operates on 600-1000 patients annually, and have a yearly outpatient consults of more than 5000. All Services are rendered free of charge under Philhealth no balance billing on charity patients. |
| Dermatology | Reconstructive surgery |
| Internal medicine | Obstetrics and gynecology |
| Emergency services | Ophthalmology |
| Training of health workers for leprosy care and management | Orientation to leprosy control |
- Public Health Unit
The hospital also conducts other services available for appropriate patients such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiology, laboratory, medical-social services and assistance.

## The DJNRMH today

Today, DJNRMH envisions becoming a Tertiary General Hospital and a Center for Rehabilitation and care of leprosy patients. On 2007, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act 9420, converting 200 beds of the 2,000 beds of DJNRMH for tertiary general health care.

## Affiliations and linkages

The former sanitarium serves and attends to patients together with other recognized Philippine non-government organizations (NGO) and including nearby religious organizations and Churches that send contributions and visit abandoned or dying patients for religious services and rites whenever applicable.
* Pediatric ward
* Serene environment of the hospital