SARRAT, Ilocos Norte — Residents of Sarrat and nearby towns can now access essential diagnostic services closer to home following the opening of the town’s new Clinical Laboratory, X-Ray and Ultrasound Services at the Sarrat Primary Care Facility (PCF) on September 11, 2026.

The Department of Health (DOH)–Ilocos Region, together with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the Local Government Unit of Sarrat, led the inauguration of the upgraded facility.

The project was funded with ₱4.995 million under the DOH Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) through the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

The new diagnostic services are expected to reduce the need for residents to travel outside Sarrat for routine laboratory tests and medical imaging.

The upgraded PCF now includes dedicated diagnostic areas, an expanded outpatient department and a fully equipped emergency room to handle urgent cases, including emergency maternal care.

Its accredited Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC) also continues to provide rabies post-exposure treatment and wound management.

Meanwhile, work is underway to establish a licensed pharmacy inside the facility to make access to medicines more convenient for patients.

Local health officials said cooperation among government agencies remains crucial in upgrading healthcare facilities and bringing essential services closer to communities.

The upgraded facility is now fully operational and staffed by health professionals trained in primary care.

The expansion supports the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, particularly efforts to strengthen primary care and improve access to essential health services in Ilocos Norte and across the region.