Gov’t sends mobile clinics to 28 far-flung areas

Mindanao map. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has turned over the first batch of mobile clinics or vehicles equipped with top-notch diagnostic and laboratory equipment to 28 provinces in Mindanao, in fulfillment of the government’s promise to deliver quality health care to the provinces, especially in remote areas.

In his speech at the Manila North Harbor on Friday morning, Mr. Marcos said the deployment of mobile clinics for each of the country’s provinces is part of the government’s “innovative and flexible” approach in bringing primary health care closer to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

“There are many things we need to do to fix the health-care system in our country but our goal is clear: each Filipino should feel that the health-care system is working. Providing healthcare services to all is a challenge that needs coordination and strong leadership at every level of the government,” the President said.

He also took to social media to announce the deployment of the first batch of 28 out of 83 mobile clinics to ensure “that every Filipino, no matter where they are, can now receive the care they deserve.”

“As we send off the first batch of Bagong Pilipinas Mobile Clinics bound for Mindanao, we fulfill our promise to deliver quality health care to every province in the country,” he said.

The President lamented that some Filipinos living in far-flung areas of the country have to make a long trip to the hospital just to get themselves examined by a physician.

“They have to ride a boat, walk for hours and pray that they will arrive at the hospital safely. The distance is not their lone enemy, but the long hours, exhaustion, hunger, anxiety and the costs of health care,” Mr. Marcos said.

He said the local government of each province can easily deploy their mobile clinic on medical missions where Filipinos in need of medical attention can consult a physician and just wait for their test results at the mobile clinic itself, without having to go to a hospital.

The mobile clinic will also allow Filipinos to have their own medical records that can be used for reference every time they get themselves checked at the mobile clinic or at government-owned hospitals.