Patients bare struggles with lack of DOH mobile clinics

In the Philippine provinces, patients with chronic illnesses continue to struggle with the lack of affordable clinics and hospitals in their area.

In its latest episode, “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” looked into the plight of patients who travel far and turn to alternative ways of medicine just to get the healthcare they need.

Roselyn

Roselyn and her husband, Jonnel, live in a small house in Purok Cacao in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

It was in 2024 when Roselyn suddenly felt pain in her left side. During her checkup, it was discovered that she had a cancerous lump. Roselyn was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer, which has spread throughout her body.

To prevent the cancer from spreading further, Roselyn has to undergo chemotherapy, and various lab tests every month.

However, there are no adequate medical facilities in their small town, so the couple has to travel to other towns or provinces.

To get free chemotherapy, they commute via a van to Davao City, which is more than 300 kilometers away from Lebak and takes 11 hours. For the two-way trip, they have to pay P4,000.

“Maliban sa trabaho ko talaga, nagsa-sideline ako. Minsan nagta-tattoo. Nagbabanda then ‘pag Sabado ng umaga, college, nagtuturo rin ako. Kulang pa rin, Ma'am,” Jonnel said.

["Aside from my main job, I also do side jobs. Sometimes I tattoo. I play in a band, then on Saturday mornings I teach in a college. But it's still not enough, Ma'am."] . 

The couple also often travels via motorbike to Davao.  

“’Yung takbo is dahan-dahan lang. Sa sakit niya kasi hindi puwede ‘yung mabilis. Hindi siya komportable,” Jonnel said.

["The speed is slow. We can't go fast because of her condition. She's not comfortable."] 

However, Roselyn was advised by their doctor to temporarily halt chemotherapy sessions because her creatinine levels are rising.

“Sabi niya, bawal daw ipagpatuloy ang chemo kasi delikado sa kidney,” Roselyn said.

["The doctor said chemotherapy should not be continued because it is dangerous for the kidneys."] 

She is also unable to rest as she still has to undergo lab tests per month, such as blood chemistry tests, ultrasounds, and CT scans.

The couple goes to Sultan Kudarat District Hospital for these tests, but the hospital itself lacks equipment and facilities.

“Parang tatlong hospital dito sa Lebak, kulang lahat,” Roselyn said.

["There are about three hospitals here in Leban, but all of them lack facilities."] 

“Sabi nga nila, dito sa Lebak kung ang sakit mo fatal, mamatay ka na lang bago ka makaabot,” she added.

["As they say here in Lebak, if your illness is fatal, you might die before getting to the hospital."]

According to Dr. Castillon of the Lebak Municipal Health Office, their hospital is in a coastal area, so it is somewhat isolated.

“Ang problema po kasi namin dito, ‘yung hospital po namin is level 1 lang po, so hindi siya complete facility,” Dr. Castillon said. 

["Our problem here is our hospital is only a level 1 facility, so it is not a complete facility."]

“Minsan yung nag-da-dialysis na mga pasyente, mga nagki-chemotherapy, lumalabas po sa mga malalaking hospital.”

["Sometimes our dialysis and chemotherapy patients have to go to larger hospitals."]

There are also private clinics, but these are too expensive for Roselyn.

Roselyn and Jonnel would travel to Koronadal in South Cotabato for more affordable lab tests, but the journey takes them five hours.  To save money, Roselyn endures the pain and relies on medicinal plants to stabilize her hemoglobin and lower her creatinine levels. 

Jeorge

Jeorge of Sagnay, Camarines Sur, has illnesses affecting his kidney, liver, heart, and lungs. According to his son, Rainiel, he has been in and out of the hospital for two years. 

It also takes Jeorge hours to get to the hospital in the town center.

“Mahirap din po ‘pag nagbibiyahe po kami. ‘Yung tiyan po ni Papa naaalog po. So sumasakit po.” Rainiel said.

["It's difficult when we travel. My father's stomach gets jostled, so it causes pain."]

“Sobra po talagang hirap, kahit hatinggabi, umuulan, dinadala ako ng anak ko sa ospital para pausukan lamang,” Jeorge said.

["It's extremely hard. Even at midnight when it is raining, my son would bring me to the hospital just to get steam treatment."]

“Umiiyak na lang ho. Sabi ko nga po eh, kunin na lang ako ni Lord para hindi na mahirapan. Binibigyan pa rin ako ng pagkakataon para ano, dugtungan ang buhay,” Jeorge added. “Nilalabanan ko talaga ang sakit. Hindi ko siya uurungan hangga't kaya kong labanan siya.”

["I would just cry. I would say, the Lord should just take me so I won't have to suffer anymore. But He continues to give me a chance to extend my life. I'm really fighting the illness. I won't back down as long as I can still fight it."]

When Jeorge has trouble breathing, Rainiel turns to their DIY oxygen or improvised oxygen tank. It is an old bucket with a hole at the bottom, old calendars, and a bottle to serve as a connector.

“Naisipan na lang po na ganun na lang ang gawin kasi walang-wala na po talaga kami,” Raniel said.

["We decided to do that because we really have nothing left."]

However, following their viral post, several netizens have reached out to help the family.

Rainiel also hopes that a mobile clinic opens up near them.

What’s happening?

Roselyn and George are among those who aim to be helped by Mobile Primary Care Facilities (MPCF), a project of the Department of Health (DOH). These are mobile clinics or hospitals on wheels designed to serve communities in far-flung areas. 

The mobile clinics are part of the Universal Health Care Act of 2019 under President Rodrigo Duterte, but were only rolled out in 2024 under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos' administration. 

For 83 mobile clinics, P830 million was allotted, or P10 million per mobile clinic.

One of them was given to Sultan Kudarat, Roselyn's province, and was installed in the capital. 

Dr. Gina, a health officer in Sultan Kudarat, said, “’Yung mga laboratory natin na diagnostics natin like CBC, blood chem, fecalysis, urinalysis, X-ray nagpo-provide din po sila na mga services na ganon.”

["Our diagnostic laboratories also provide services such as CBC, blood chemistry, fecalysis, urinalysis, and X-rays."”]

Chemotherapy is not provided in the mobile clinics because it is offered by tertiary care centers. The mobile clinics only provide primary care services.

Dr. Gina also said that the mobile clinics operate on fixed schedules.

“Ang pagpunta natin doon, community po ang target natin. Kasi more nga tayo sa prevention, screening, management of mga chronic diseases. Depende po kasi sa need ng community po,” she said.

["Our visits there target communities since we focus more on prevention, screening, and management of chronic diseases. It depends on the needs of the community."]

Due to the remote location of Roselyn’s house, they are also not reached by the mobile clinic.

However, the Sultan Kudarat mobile clinic was revealed to be non-functional by former DOH Undersecretary Dr. Gregorio Murillo Jr. This is due to a lack of supplies and training of personnel handling the equipment.

“Findings in the report indicate that only 25 percent of the distributed MPCFs are functional or capable of providing the intended clinical laboratory, diagnostic, and imaging services, highlighting a deeply concerning level of inefficiency, wasted resources, and unmet health care needs among the Filipino people,” Murillo had said in a letter to Marcos.

“KMJS” reached out to Murillo for an interview but he did not respond to the request. 

The Department of Health has yet to release an official statement regarding the revelations made by Dr. Gregorio Murillo, Jr. According to their statement published on GMA News Online, they cannot provide a comment until they have investigated the aforementioned document.

"We can't authenticate this document and moreso comment on as it is, on its face, not marked as from DOH," Usec. Albert Domingo, Spokesperson of the Department Of Health said.

“Health is still a basic human right. Kailangan lahat may (everyone should have) access to good and quality healthcare,” Dr. Gallo said.

“We need to speak out kung ano 'yung mga kakulangan at saka yung mga gusto natin mag-improve pa,” he added. “You deserve better healthcare.”

["We need to speak out about what is lacking and what we want to be improved. You deserve better healthcare."]

Rainiel, for his part, underscored that access to healthcare is a right of the people. 

“Karapatan rin natin po ng mga mamamayan at kung nagamit lang po nang tama yung pondo ng gobyerno, malaking tulong po ‘yun kasi hindi po mahihirapan yung mga tao,” Raniel said.

["It is also the people's right and if government funds were used properly, it would have helped greatly because people would not have to suffer."]

Roselyn also hoped that attention would be given to the underserved. 

“Mabigyan pansin para ‘yung mga mahihirap hindi na mahirapan,” Roselyn cried. “Tapos ‘yung mga nasa taas sana yung budget sana na para sa ospital, ibigay talaga nila para sa hospital kasi alam naman natin na may budget ang healthcare.”

["I hope attention is given to the poor so they will no longer suffer. I hope those in power would ensure that the budget allocated to hospitals would actually be given to them because we know there is budget for healthcare."] 

Jeorge, on the other hand, hoped that authorities would go to far-flung areas and help those who are ill. 

“Sana po pumupunta man lang sila sa mga liblib na lugar. Para matulungan nila ‘yung may mga sakit,” he said. “Sana po mailaan sa tamang proseso ang mga kagaya niyang pondo para lamang sa mga walang kakayahan.”

["I hope they would at least go to remote areas so they can help those who are ill. I hope the funds meant for those who have no means are processed properly."]

“Kung meron sanang mobile clinic dito, ‘yung perang, halimbawa, sobra-sobra naman na pwede pambili ng gamot. Nailalaan sana namin doon." 

["If there was a mobile clinic here, excess funds, for example, could be used to buy medicine. We could have allocated it for that."] 

For those who wish to help Roselyn and Jeorge, you may deposit your donations to:

BANK: BDO NETWORK BANK

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 040060165383

ACCOUNT NAME:  JONNEL GINDAP

GCASH

09569442637

JEORGE BONANCIA

—CDC, GMA News