The Department of Health (DOH), led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, in collaboration with representatives from National Government Agencies (NGAs), officially inaugurated on Tuesday, Sept. 12, the “LAB for ALL” initiative at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City.
Initiated by the Marcos administration, the “LAB for ALL” caravan seeks to provide cost-free essential healthcare services to the local community.
“Upang mas maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino saan mang bahagi ng bansa ang libre at kalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan tungo sa healthy Pilipinas kung saan bawat buhay ay mahalaga (To ensure that every Filipino in any part of the country can feel the availability of free and quality healthcare services towards a healthy Philippines where every life is valuable)," Herbosa said.
These services, said the DOH, encompass the distribution of complementary medications and access to consultations spanning various medical specialties, including ENT, pediatrics, surgery, vaccination, eye check-ups, obstetrics, gynecology, ECG, X-ray, and more.
In addition to the DOH, several other government entities actively participated in the launch of “LAB for ALL.”
These include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the local government of Laoag City.
The public sector collaborated with select private sector partners who shared a common goal of delivering top-tier healthcare services.
During the event, which was also attended by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, Herbosa affirmed the DOH's unwavering commitment to supporting “LAB for ALL” since it is aligned with the Universal Health Care Act. (Zekinah Elize Espina)