Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
*President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot)*

This was the remark of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as he assured the public of his administration's determination to make healthcare more accessible by establishing more rural healthcare units and pharmacies across the country. Marcos said this as he led the briefing and site inspection of the first-ever Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center (CMSMC) in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, on Monday, July 17. In his speech, the President said that not only was the project a fulfillment of one of his commitments during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), but it was also the product of his administration's push for universal healthcare. "Rest assured, this administration is determined to bringing quality healthcare services closer to the Filipino people," he said. "We will establish primary healthcare facilities and specialty centers nationwide," he added. According to the President, the government will not stop until every Filipino can say they have good access to quality healthcare. "It is not a privilege to have healthcare— it is a right," Marcos said. "That is how we will approach this problem, and that is how we will continue to make our healthcare system better for all Filipinos in whatever capacity we are able to do," he added. The Chief executive said that the government will establish rural healthcare units and barangay healthcare centers and revisit the idea of establishing the Botica de Barangay. "All of these things we are putting together so that, at least, when it comes to the fundamental healthcare for our countrymen, we can say [it] is readily available to them," he said. According to Malacañang, the construction of the CMSMC, the first regional specialty medical center, backs the Administration’s efforts to establish more hospitals in different provinces and cities nationwide. The facility would cater to the medical needs of every Filipino, particularly those living in Regions 1, 2, 3, and the National Capital Region (NCR). Once finished, the CMSMC will consist of various specialization centers and healthcare services such as heart, lung, center, and cancer centers, and children’s hospital. In his speech, President Marcos said healthcare is an important of his Administration as he cannot fathom the idea that Filipinos would not get treatment because of the lack of facilities. "I cannot endure the sight of seeing a fellow Filipino suffer only because of the lack of facilities in our health system," he said. 'That is why it is a fundamental part of the services that this government will bring to our people," he added. With this, he urged the public to be "part of the solution" and put forward innovative alternatives that they believe can help uplift the lives of their fellowmen as nobody can truly be successful without good health. "Any person, no matter how successful they are in whatever field they have been, cannot enjoy that success if they do not also enjoy good health," he added.