By CESAR JOLITO III

A mobile medical services program aimed at expanding access to basic healthcare in remote communities has been launched in Negros Occidental’s 3rd District.

The initiative was formally introduced on Monday, March 2, is set to cover 115 barangays across the district.

Dubbed “Ikaayong Lawas On Wheels Serbisyo Mediko sa Tersero Distrito,” the program brings hospital-based services directly to barangays, with a focus on residents who face difficulties accessing healthcare due to distance and cost.

Priority beneficiaries include senior citizens, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and indigent families living in geographically isolated areas of Negros Occidental.

Under the program, through a partnership between Riverside Medical Center, Inc. and the office of 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez, medical teams will visit one local government unit each week, conducting services every Monday and covering one to seven barangays per stop.

Patients will receive free diagnostic services such as blood sugar, cholesterol and creatinine tests, complete blood count, chest X-ray, and electrocardiogram.

Health workers will also screen patients for early signs of illness and refer financially incapacitated cases to the MAIFIPP assistance system for further support.

The initiative supports the goals of the Universal Health Care Act by strengthening primary care at the barangay level and easing patient congestion in hospitals and rural health units.

Beyond clinical services, the program also provides health education to encourage early consultation and improve long-term health-seeking behavior among communities in the district./CJ, WDJ