By Brian Campued
“One by one, we are building a better healthcare system that serves every Filipino with dignity.”
As part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday inaugurated the Department of Health-Jose B. Lingad Children’s Medical Center (DOH-JBL CMC) at the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
In his speech, President Marcos Jr. acknowledged the persisting gaps in the country’s healthcare system, noting that there were patients who had no choice but to travel to Metro Manila for specialized medical treatment.
The DOH-JBL children’s hospital is the first completed facility under the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center complex, marking another step in the administration’s push to bring specialized healthcare closer to Filipinos pursuant to Republic Act 11959 or the “Regional Specialty Centers Act.
“Today, we have progressed towards that vision with the completion of the first phase of the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center,” the President said.
“Parents seeking specialized treatment for their children will no longer have to make difficult trips to Metro Manila, sometimes even having to go abroad,” he said, adding that the new pediatric facility is expected to ease the financial and emotional burden on parents by making specialized services more accessible.
Set to open on Aug. 1, the state-of-the-art pediatric hospital will provide specialized pediatric healthcare services for patients from Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and nearby communities.
The children’s hospital also features an Integrated Operating Room, specialized outpatient consultation area, and advanced diagnostic facilities, including an artificial intelligence or AI-enabled X-ray system and a 128-slice CT scanner.
President Marcos Jr. assured that the launch of DOH-JBL CMC is “only the beginning” as additional specialty facilities such as a renal center, cardiovascular center, and cancer center are expected to rise within the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center complex.
He likewise reiterated the administration’s efforts to reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenses through the Zero Balance Billing program, Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program, and the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP).
The Chief Executive also highlighted the expansion of PhilHealth benefits, including the enhanced newborn care package that covers screening tests, vaccinations, and treatment for premature and low-birth-weight infants.
“We will do our best to lift the burdens from our people’s shoulders and give them opportunities to live healthier and more secure lives,” he said. “I assure you that your government will not stop working to give every Filipino child the chance to grow up healthy and to grow up strong.”
Before concluding his speech, the President also acknowledged the contributions of the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc., the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and the Clark Development Corporation, saying their partnership with the national government helped transform the project “from a plan into a working hospital for children.”
-jpv
