mWell, the local health and wellness platform by Metro Pacific Health Tech Corp., is expanding digital healthcare services to remote and island communities to make access to doctors faster and more affordable.
In a statement on Thursday, the company said it now connects Filipinos to over 3,700 doctors across 48 specializations nationwide.
By comparison, urban areas average one doctor per 33,000 people, while some rural communities depend on a single doctor for as many as 100,000 residents.
“Families in faraway communities have waited too long for easy access to care,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of mWell and MPIC.
“With our partners, we’re building pathways that make healthcare more accessible and affordable for every Filipino. We’ll continue working to bridge the gap between our people and the care they deserve.”
mWell works with government agencies and community groups to deliver healthcare services to remote areas.
Through the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s BangkaHealth program, Clinic-In-A-Bag units and satellite internet now reach island barangays in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Similar programs also serve Mararison Island, Zamboanga’s Pink Island, and Talim Island.
The platform also supports the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s MIMAROPA Digital Bayanihan Caravan. Health workers in remote barangays use 216 tablets loaded with the mWell app to provide basic care and guide families through teleconsultations.
mWell has launched Southeast Asia’s first medical drone delivery service, transporting supplies to isolated sitios in Rizal.
Other initiatives include Lab For All caravans led by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and mobile health services for coconut farmers in Digos, Davao through sister company KonsultaMD.
Local governments are integrating mWell into community health systems. In Taytay, Palawan, residents can access doctors through health kiosks, digital Health IDs, and the Primary Care Access System, while being registered into PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program.
In Taguig City, mWell provides online consultations and e-prescriptions for persons with disabilities, while the Shore It Up program offers 24/7 teleconsultations to 650 residents on Pagasa Island.
Through these efforts, mWell seeks to improve continuity of care and integrate digital health into national systems, including the eGovernment Philippines App, which allows Filipinos to manage their digital Health ID and access online consultations even from remote locations.