Remote communities receive health boost

The digital health platform mWell is expanding its reach into the country’s most remote island communities to address a critical shortage of medical professionals in rural areas, the company announced Thursday.

The platform, operated by Metro Pacific Health Tech Corp., now connects users to more than 3,700 doctors across 48 specializations. The expansion aims to bridge a stark healthcare divide — while urban areas average one doctor per 33,000 people, some rural communities have only one doctor for every 100,000 residents.

“Families in faraway communities have waited too long for easy access to care,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of mWell and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. “We’re building pathways that make healthcare more accessible and affordable for every Filipino.”

The initiative utilizes several high-tech solutions to bypass geographical barriers such as Satellite Connectivity through the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s “BangkaHealth” program.