By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday, led the inauguration of the Veterans Access to Lifetime Optimized Healthcare (VALOR) Clinic in Lipa City, Batangas, as part of government efforts to enhance veterans’ access to quality healthcare.
Marcos, accompanied by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., unveiled the marker of the VALOR Clinic during the program.
The VALOR Clinic is a collaborative initiative among the DND, the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), and the Philippine Air Force to expand the reach of medical services to eligible beneficiaries nationwide.
The inauguration of the clinic is in line with Marcos’ directive to upgrade and improve healthcare services for Filipino war veterans, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) retirees, and their dependents.
The clinic will also help decongest the number of patients at the VMMC in Quezon City.
The VALOR Clinic, which is currently undergoing phased renovation, will offer outpatient services, including basic consultation, diagnostic examinations, and pharmaceutical care. It will feature a patient waiting area, outpatient consultation rooms, pharmacy unit, blood extraction area, staff pantry and support area, and dedicated teleconsultation facility.
The new clinic is part of the VALOR program, which focuses on establishing clinics in the military treatment facilities, thereby extending healthcare services to veterans and retired military personnel.
The VALOR Network strives to improve patient outcomes and access to specialized services by integrating services across different levels of care.
To ensure efficient and patient-centered care delivery, trained triage personnel will perform preliminary assessments, including vital signs, chief complaints, and clinical prioritization, ensuring appropriate routing based on medical urgency and service requirement.
Patients are assigned to designated outpatient consultation rooms for clinical evaluation, after triage.
For cases needing subspecialty input beyond on-site capacity, patients are referred to the teleconsultation facility, which is equipped for remote case conferencing, enabling real-time consultation with off-site specialists to support complex case management and continuity of care.
Caring for veterans, soldiers
The AFP, meanwhile, said the facilityis a proof of its commitment to looking after the welfare of veterans and retired personnel.
In a statement, the AFP said this “milestone” advances access to healthcare services for Filipino veterans and their dependents nationwide.
It also added that the newly-opened medical facility is part of a broader initiative led by VMMC to bring vital medical services closer to veterans and their families, especially those living outside Metro Manila.
The program reflects the government’s continued efforts to decentralize healthcare and honor the contributions of the country’s veterans.
“By extending services to the regions, the Valor Clinic initiative not only enhances access to quality care for veterans but also helps decongest VMMC’s main facility in Quezon City, ensuring more efficient and responsive healthcare delivery across the country,” the AFP said. (with report from Priam Nepomuceno / PTV News)
