Before establishing St. Elizabeth Hospital, Dr. Jesus Veneracion was deeply influenced by his experiences accompanying his older brother, who served as the chaplain of Muntinlupa prison. These visits, especially witnessing his brother’s selfless acts, shaped Dr. Jess’s compassion and dedication to healthcare. After receiving an invitation from another brother to move from Manila to General Santos City, Dr. Veneracion relocated with his wife, Mrs. Angelita Veneracion, bringing his General Surgery training from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago. In what was then the small rural town of Dadiangas, he realized that the area lacked sufficient healthcare services, prompting him and his family to establish a medical facility.
In 1962, Dr. Jesus C. Veneracion founded St. Elizabeth Hospital, the first medical facility in General Santos City, with just 25 beds. The hospital was named after St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and its mission was to serve the medical needs of the growing community. Dr. Veneracion took on the role of Chief Operating Officer, while his wife, Angelita, served as the Disbursing Officer. Together, they laid the foundation for a hospital that would become a cornerstone of healthcare in the region.
By 1970, with their family expanding to seven children, Dr. and Mrs. Veneracion found it challenging to balance family and professional responsibilities. As devout Catholics, they sought assistance from the Dominican Sisters of Siena, who were experienced in hospital management. This partnership allowed the couple to focus on their growing family while ensuring the hospital’s continuous improvement.
In 1975, St. Elizabeth Hospital underwent significant expansion, elevating its services to a tertiary care facility and increasing its bed capacity to 75. This transformation allowed the hospital to provide advanced medical care to the community, marking an important milestone in its growth.
Until 1983, the Dominican Sisters of Siena managed St. Elizabeth Hospital alongside Dr. Veneracion, who served as the Medical Director. After a mutual decision, the two parties parted ways, and Dr. Veneracion took on both roles as administrator and medical director, continuing to guide the hospital’s operations.
In 1987, the ownership of St. Elizabeth Hospital transitioned from a single proprietorship to a corporation, with the Veneracion siblings—Antonio, Ma. Rosario, and Jesus Jr.—joining the Board. The family initiated efforts to rehabilitate, renovate, and expand the hospital to enhance its competitiveness, laying the groundwork for future growth.
In 1989, Mr. Antonio Veneracion, armed with degrees in Business Management and Accountancy, took over as Hospital Administrator. Under his leadership, the hospital expanded into a full-fledged general tertiary institution with 180 beds. Major renovations occurred in 1997, including upgrades to private rooms and medical equipment, marking a period of modernization for the facility.
St. Elizabeth Hospital introduced a pioneering Quality Assurance Program in 2000, spearheaded by Mr. Antonio Veneracion. This initiative focused on delivering exceptional customer service by implementing the total quality management approach, which aimed to “do the right things right the first time.” This program was recognized by regulatory agencies and became a model for other hospitals. In 2009, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) selected St. Elizabeth Hospital as a pilot center for its Benchbook Program, further cementing its reputation for quality care.
The hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012 with two major accomplishments: it received ISO 9001:2008 certification, becoming the first healthcare facility in region 12 to achieve this, and expanded its bed capacity to 248. These milestones highlighted the hospital’s ongoing commitment to excellence and service to the community.
In October 2017, St. Elizabeth Hospital entered into a partnership with Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (now Metro Pacific Health), becoming the 14th member of their network. With this partnership, the hospital launched several key projects, including an upgrade to ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2018, and the opening of a new premium wing in 2019, which increased the hospital’s capacity to 273 beds. Additionally, a new Outpatient Care Center was established, featuring cutting-edge medical equipment and a modern facility.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, St. Elizabeth Hospital demonstrated resilience, implementing strict safety protocols and expanding services such as Teleconsultation, Lab Express, and Medicine Delivery. It was appointed as the APEX Hospital in the region and received recognition for its outstanding performance during the pandemic. That same year, the hospital opened the St. Elizabeth Cancer Care Center, providing comprehensive cancer treatment options including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
In 2021, St. Elizabeth Hospital expanded its services by opening the St. Elizabeth Outpatient Care Center in Alabel, providing accessible healthcare to surrounding provinces. The center featured modern facilities and highly trained staff, ensuring that the community received high-quality care.
In April 2022, Antonio Veneracion was promoted to Chief Executive Officer, continuing his family’s legacy of leadership at the hospital. Later that year, the hospital launched St. Elizabeth Express Care, offering outpatient services such as laboratory and imaging through a convenient drive-up facility, allowing patients to receive care without entering the hospital.
On April 4, 2023, the hospital inaugurated the Jesus C. Veneracion Medical Arts Tower, the tallest building in Region 12, named in honor of the hospital’s founder. This state-of-the-art facility brought together over 130 medical specialists and various specialized services. From Pediatrics, OB-Gyne, Surgery, Internal Medicine and a lot more. You can also find here other specialized services such St. Elizabeth Cancer Care Center, MedExpress Drugstore, Dental Clinic, Hemodialysis Unit, Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy facilities. Additionally, the Medical Facility for Overseas Workers and Seafarers (OFW Clinic) and Sleep Laboratory opened their services to address the needs of the community in region 12.
Furthermore, St. Elizabeth Hospital has made significant advancements in cardiovascular care with the establishment of the region’s first-ever Catheterization Laboratory. The hospital also performs heart surgeries, including Atrial Septal Defect repair and Triple and Quadruple Heart Bypass Surgeries, among others, offering comprehensive, life-saving treatments for patients with complex heart conditions. Most recently, we launched the MRI 1.5 Tesla technology, the most advanced in the region, further solidifying our commitment to providing cutting-edge diagnostics and treatment options to our patients.
Today, St. Elizabeth Hospital stands as a testament to decades of compassionate care, innovation, and resilience. It continues to honor its founders’ vision while embracing the future with a commitment to providing exceptional healthcare to the people of region 12 and beyond.
