Marcos on health in rural areas: Going to hospitals is ‘extremely difficult’

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed to make healthcare accessible for people in rural areas, expressing concern over high mortality rates in regional and other major hospitals.

Speaking at the launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), Marcos attributed the high mortality rates to the "very far" distance of these facilities from rural communities, which often causes residents to delay consultations until their conditions are severe.

The event was held at Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.



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“We are asking, and the answer was simple — it’s because the major hospitals are very far from where they live, making it extremely difficult for them to get there,” he said.

Because of this, residents in far-flung areas often seek hospital consultations only when their condition has become severe.

“How can we prevent that? We need to bring healthcare closer to the people — not just through large hospitals, but also through smaller clinics — what we used to call RHUs or Rural Health Units,” he said.

READ: Marcos vows to boost healthcare, expand access in remote areas

YAKAP is a component of PhilHealth’s expanded Primary Care Benefit program. Initially launched in 2021 as PhilHealth’s Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama Program, it has expanded into a comprehensive primary care package.

It includes a range of medicines, additional laboratory tests, and cancer screening services at accredited primary care facilities nationwide. /apl

(2025/07/25-11:29)

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