Ilocos Sur Medical Center Rates & Fees 2026
Quick Answer: Ilocos Sur Medical Center (ISMC) in Candon City is a DOH-retained tertiary hospital, so any PhilHealth member admitted to a ward bed pays ₱0 under Zero Balance Billing. For services you pay out of pocket, ISMC's own Citizen's Charter lists exact figures: oral prophylaxis (cleaning) is ₱400, a simple tooth extraction is ₱300, fluoride varnish is ₱250, and a dental check-up is free. There's no general trunkline published — reach the Public Assistance and Complaints Desk (PACD) at 0916-497-6615 or the Emergency Room at 0967-291-3233.
About this guide: Legal status comes from Republic Act 11705 (16 April 2022), sourced from the Supreme Court E-Library. Rate figures are transcribed verbatim from ISMC's own Citizen's Charter, 1st Edition 2025, published on ismc.doh.gov.ph. The charter carries no effective date beyond "1st Edition 2025," and we note that plainly wherever it applies. Last checked: August 2026.
Table of Contents
- About Ilocos Sur Medical Center
- Official published rates
- Is ISMC free?
- What Zero Balance Billing covers
- What's not covered
- How to contact ISMC
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
About Ilocos Sur Medical Center
Ilocos Sur Medical Center was established by Republic Act 11705, signed 16 April 2022. The law states plainly: "There shall be established in the City of Candon, Province of Ilocos Sur a tertiary hospital... which shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health (DOH)." That makes ISMC a DOH-retained facility — run by the national government, not the province or city.
ISMC describes itself as a "Multi-Specialty Medical and Training Center for Heart, Pulmonary and Kidney Diseases." Cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal care were the founding focus written into its legislative mandate, and that positioning still shapes the hospital's services today. We could not verify a numbered DOH facility level beyond "tertiary," a specific bed capacity, or a Malasakit Center — none of these appear on the hospital's own site or in its Citizen's Charter, so we're not listing them here.
Address: Heroes Bypass Road, Parioc Primero, Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
Official published rates
ISMC publishes a Citizen's Charter with itemized fees for select services. The dental fee schedule is the most complete:
| Dental service | Price |
|---|---|
| Dental check-up / oral examination | Free |
| Fluoride varnish | ₱250.00 |
| Oral prophylaxis (cleaning) | ₱400.00 |
| Tooth extraction (simple) | ₱300.00 (+₱36 if additional anesthesia is needed) |
| Odontectomy (simple removal of impacted 3rd molar) | ₱4,500.00 |
ISMC also publishes a histopathology fee table priced by specimen size, from a Level I small specimen at ₱800 or ₱1,800 up to a Level V extra-extra-large specimen at ₱7,900. The charter doesn't break out every intermediate level or a separate effective date beyond "1st Edition 2025" — treat these as the current published figures unless the hospital tells you otherwise at billing.
For services not listed in the charter — general consultations, laboratory panels, imaging, or ward accommodation charges for non-PhilHealth patients — confirm directly with ISMC's billing office.
Is ISMC free?
For inpatients, largely yes. As a DOH-retained hospital, ISMC is subject to Zero Balance Billing: any PhilHealth member admitted to a basic or ward bed pays ₱0, regardless of income. There's no means test and no separate application — the deciding factor is simply which bed type you accept at admission.
Outpatient services, including the dental fees listed above, are billed at the published rate unless a specific assistance program covers them. Choosing a private or semi-private room also takes you out of ZBB entirely.
What Zero Balance Billing covers
ZBB runs on PhilHealth Circular 0003 s.2014 and Circular 2020-0024, under the National Health Insurance Act and the Universal Health Care Act. For a ward patient, it covers:
| What's covered |
|---|
| Room and board in basic/ward accommodation |
| Professional fees of attending physicians |
| Laboratory and diagnostic tests ordered during admission |
| Operating room use |
| Medicines stocked by the hospital's own pharmacy |
The funding comes through MAIFIP, the DOH's Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program. For the full policy mechanics, see our Zero Balance Billing guide and PhilHealth hospitalization benefits overview.
What's not covered
- Private and semi-private rooms. Choosing one takes you out of ZBB entirely.
- Outpatient dental and diagnostic services, billed at the published rates shown above.
- Elective and amenity services outside the standard covered scope.
- Anything not itemized in the Citizen's Charter. Where ISMC's own PDF doesn't list a figure, we don't estimate one — ask the billing office directly.
If a balance remains after ZBB, see our guide on what to do if you can't pay a hospital bill or check the PCSO medical assistance program.
How to contact ISMC
| Address | Heroes Bypass Road, Parioc Primero, Candon City, Ilocos Sur |
| PACD (Public Assistance) | 0916-497-6615 |
| Emergency Room | 0967-291-3233 |
| Office of the Medical Center Chief | mcc@ismc.doh.gov.ph |
| Website | ismc.doh.gov.ph |
ISMC does not publish a landline trunkline — only department mobile numbers. If you're calling about billing or admission, PACD is the best starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ilocos Sur Medical Center free?
For PhilHealth members admitted to a ward bed, yes — Zero Balance Billing applies because ISMC is a DOH-retained hospital, so the inpatient bill comes to ₱0 regardless of income. Outpatient services like dental care are billed at ISMC's published Citizen's Charter rates.
How much is a tooth extraction at Ilocos Sur Medical Center?
A simple tooth extraction is ₱300.00, with an additional ₱36 if extra anesthesia is required. Oral prophylaxis (cleaning) is ₱400.00, and a dental check-up or oral examination is free, per ISMC's Citizen's Charter, 1st Edition 2025.
Is Ilocos Sur Medical Center a government hospital?
Yes. It's a DOH-retained tertiary hospital, established by Republic Act 11705 in 2022, under the direct control and supervision of the national Department of Health rather than the provincial or city government.
What is Ilocos Sur Medical Center's phone number?
There's no general landline published. Use the PACD mobile number, 0916-497-6615, or the Emergency Room line, 0967-291-3233, depending on your need.
Does Ilocos Sur Medical Center have a Malasakit Center?
We could not verify one. It doesn't appear on ISMC's own website or in its Citizen's Charter, so we're not claiming it has one.
What kind of hospital is Ilocos Sur Medical Center?
RA 11705 designates it a tertiary hospital, and ISMC describes itself as a "Multi-Specialty Medical and Training Center for Heart, Pulmonary and Kidney Diseases" — cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal care were the founding focus.
Conclusion
Ilocos Sur Medical Center is a DOH-retained tertiary hospital in Candon City, established by RA 11705 in 2022, with cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal care as its founding specialty. PhilHealth members admitted to a ward bed pay ₱0 under Zero Balance Billing. Where ISMC does publish figures — its dental fee schedule — the numbers are exact and current as of the 2025 Citizen's Charter. For anything else, PACD at 0916-497-6615 is your starting point.
For the national picture on government hospital pricing, see our hospital rates in the Philippines guide, or find a government hospital near you. To search other facilities directly, use ClinicFinderPH.