New specialty service at CPH Balamban expands access to advanced pain care under Gov. Pam Baricuatro’s healthcare reforms
BALAMBAN, Cebu — Cebu Province has opened the first Interventional Pain Clinic in Cebu and the entire Visayas, introducing advanced minimally invasive procedures for patients suffering from chronic and cancer-related pain at Cebu Provincial Hospital–Balamban (CPH Balamban).
The new clinic offers specialized interventional pain management procedures, including Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation, a technique that precisely targets nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals. The procedure can significantly reduce pain and improve mobility and quality of life for patients suffering from chronic musculoskeletal conditions, nerve-related disorders, and cancer-related pain requiring palliative care.
Notably, this minimally invasive interventional pain procedure are not yet widely available even in private hospitals in the Visayas, making the service at CPH Balamban a significant advancement for patients seeking specialized pain management in the region.
The clinic was established through the initiative of interventional pain specialist Dr. Kirby Ardiente, with the support of CPH Balamban Chief of Hospital Dr. Olivia Dandan, as part of efforts to expand specialized services within Cebu Province’s network of 16 Capitol-run hospitals.
The initiative is part of the broader healthcare reforms being pursued under Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro, whose administration has prioritized improving healthcare access and strengthening provincial hospitals.
Dr. Elisse Nicole “Nikki” Catalan, consultant for health systems development of the Cebu Provincial Government, expressed strong support for the new service, noting that expanding specialized care in provincial hospitals helps bring advanced treatment closer to communities.
“Access to specialized care should not be limited to major cities or private institutions. Our provincial hospitals must continue to grow so that Cebuanos can receive quality care closer to home,” Catalan said.
Beyond the medical milestone, the clinic also carries a deeply personal story.
When Dr. Ardiente returned to serve at CPH Balamban after his residency training, one of the earliest patients he helped manage for severe pain was Dr. Dandan’s mother, who was then nearing the end of her life. Despite limitations in resources at the time, the medical team worked to ease her suffering and give her greater comfort during her final days.
The experience later inspired Dr. Ardiente to pursue advanced training in interventional pain management, eventually returning to CPH Balamban with the goal of establishing specialized pain care in the province.
Today, what began with the care of one patient has grown into a dedicated Interventional Pain Clinic capable of serving many more Cebuanos living with chronic and debilitating pain, marking another milestone in Cebu Province’s effort to strengthen its public healthcare system.