President Ferdinand Marcos turned over Friday 28 new ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ mobile clinics aimed at providing healthcare services to some of the most remote and underserved areas of Mindanao.
The mobile clinics—developed in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH)—are equipped with X-ray machines, ultrasound, and laboratory equipment to bring essential medical services closer to residents in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).
“Health is a right, not a privilege,” the President said in his message.
“These clinics do more than offer medical services. They bring dignity, trust, and hope to Filipinos, who have long struggled with access to healthcare,” he added.
The President expressed his surprise at the range of sophisticated equipment packed into the clinics, citing each mobile clinic can deliver vital services such as early diagnosis for diseases like tuberculosis and diabetes.
“Everything you need is inside, from diagnostics to consultations. It’s impressive,” he said, adding that the mobile units will eliminate the need for patients to travel far to get their test results.
He also thanked the efforts of his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, whose Lab For All project similarly brings mobile healthcare to provinces.
The President shared that this initiative inspired the expansion of the mobile clinics under the administration’s broader Health Sector 8-Point Action Agenda.
With the help of local governments, mobile clinics are expected to not only provide immediate medical care, but also create and store medical records for patients, allowing for better follow-up care.
“This is a step toward making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone, no matter how far they are from the nearest hospital,” the President said.
Mr. Marcos urged local governments to support and maintain the mobile clinics, emphasizing their crucial role in improving the lives of Filipinos in rural areas.
