Veterans Memorial Medical Center

The Veterans Memorial Medical Center (formerly known as Veterans Memorial Hospital) was established in 1955 with full US government assistance under the US Veterans Administration to provide quality hospitalization, medical care and treatment to Filipino veterans as provided by U.S. public law. The patients were originally those who suffer from service-connected disabilities arising from their services with the USAFFE, recognized guerrilla units, Philippine Scouts, and Philippine Commonwealth Army. Filipino veterans covered under this program embrace: 1) The Philippine Revolutionary Forces that took up arms against the Spaniards and the Americans during the past Philippine revolutions and wars, 2) members of the First Philippine National Guards, either before or after its integration into the Army of the United States of America, 3) Filipino citizens who are enlisted and or commissioned and served during World War I under the Allied Armed Forces, 4) Philippine Scouts who were in the service prior to October 6, 1945, with wartime service, 5) USAFFE with wartime service in the Philippines, 6) Recognized World War II guerrilla units in the Philippines and 7) AFP units that participated in the Korean conflict. All that a patient needs to present in seeking admission is a certificate of his military service from the Philippine Veterans Board and this plus his marriage certificate and birth certificate of minor child if the dependent is in need of hospital care. Emergency cases, however, may be brought to the hospital directly after which pertinent papers may be secured later on.

The Veterans Memorial Medical Center was established pursuant to Public Law 865, 80th U.S. Congress. Various amendments have been introduced and the latest is Republic Act 6948 which has liberalized the definition of veterans which now included the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) retirees. Likewise, the hospitalization benefit was extended to the veteran dependents.

The Veterance Memorial Medical Center is one of three units under the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO). PVAO is a bureau under the Department of National Defense. The other two units under PVAO are the PVAO Proper, and Military Shrines Service.

Links

* Veterans Memorial Medical Center and the PVAO [http://server.pvao.mil.ph/vmmc.html]
* Philippine Veterans Bank

ources

* Department of National Defense Publication, 1962 Edition