Better healthcare programs sought

Makati Mayor Abby Binay on Wednesday announced that she will prioritize preventive healthcare initiatives if elected to the Senate, aiming to improve the quality of life for Filipinos across all socioeconomic backgrounds.

“I will advocate for better preventive healthcare in the Senate,” Binay said. “I believe preventive healthcare is more important because treatment is much more expensive when a disease becomes severe.”

The lady mayor also stressed the need for increased congressional funding for preventive healthcare programs and the modernization and expansion of public health facilities nationwide.

“We must focus on providing sufficient funds to increase the number of doctors and primary health facilities that can provide free services to citizens, even those in remote areas,” Binay said.

She envisions a system where well-equipped and staffed barangay (village) health centers are accessible to everyone, encouraging regular checkups and prompt medical attention.

“With free consultation, laboratory and diagnostic services, and medicines, citizens won’t hesitate to consult a doctor, whether they have symptoms or not,” Binay said. “Early detection of diseases allows for timely treatment before they worsen.”

Binay’s focus on preventive healthcare is part of a broader health program that includes free maintenance medicines for senior citizens and the poor, as well as free and unlimited dialysis and chemotherapy.

Her platform addresses a critical need in the Philippine healthcare system, where access to quality care remains a challenge for many, particularly those in marginalized communities.