A new floating clinic has begun bringing free medical services to remote coastal communities in Pampanga, cutting long travel times for residents who usually need to cross waters just to reach a hospital.

The Kalingang Kapampangan Floating Clinic, the first of its kind in the Philippines, was launched to deliver health services directly to villages that are difficult to reach by land.

For many residents in coastal areas such as Barangay Malusac in Sasmuan, medical care has long been hard to access.

On its first voyage, the floating clinic served around 200 patients.

The clinic, set on a barge, offers several services such as laboratory procedures including blood extraction, ECG, X-ray, and ultrasound. Dental and ophthalmology services are also available, along with minor medical procedures.

Health officials said the project aims to bring medical care closer to communities separated by water.

“Kami po ay nagagalak at natutuwa dahil ang kauna-unahang floating clinic sa bansa ay inilunsad natin… hiniram po ang modelong ito at ipinakita sa international World Health Organization meeting at nakita po nila na na-impress sila na sa disenyo pong ito ay mae-ensure po natin na sa mga lugar na hindi accessible by vehicle mayroon po tayong floating clinic na lalapit po sa mga pasyente,” Dr. Corazon Flores, regional director of the Department of Health in Central Luzon, said.

The floating clinic will stay in each barangay for up to a week, or longer depending on the number of patients, to make sure residents receive the medical care they need.