Metro Pacific delivers telemedicine services to Tawi-Tawi
By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) has expanded its telemedicine services to Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi, aiming to reach more geographically isolated areas in the Philippines.
mWell, MPIC’s health and wellness app, through its OnTheGo program, has partnered with the government’s Broadband ng Masa initiative to improve access and connectivity in underserved areas.
The portable digital clinic platform is expected to benefit the Turtle Islands’ nearly 6,000 residents through online consultations, prescriptions, and lab referrals.
“Our goal is for mWell to demolish the barriers that prevent our countrymen in remote areas from receiving quality healthcare,” Manuel V. Pangilinan, mWell chairman and MPIC chairman, said in an e-mailed press statement.
Chaye Cabal-Revilla, mWell chief executive officer and MPIC chief finance, risk, and sustainability officer, said the platform aims to foster healthcare accessibility, availability, and affordability for all Filipinos.
mWell also reached the residents of Sacol Island, Zamboanga through the Smart Village initiative of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The outreach has enabled healthcare access to the island’s 12,000 residents, according to Maria Teresa M. Camba, DICT assistant secretary.
MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of First Pacific, the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.
