CLARK FREEPORT — Recognizing the vital role of responsible journalism in promoting public health awareness, improving health literacy, and bringing reliable medical information closer to communities, Sacred Heart Medical Center (SHMC) is strengthening its partnership with the Central Luzon Media Association-Pampanga Chapter.
For this purpose, a memorandum of agreement was signed by SHMC medical director Dra. Maria Josefina ‘Neenia’ Tan and SHMC quality and business development head Kevin James Alfonso with CLMA president Jhoedie Mercado during the Talk Wid Us forum at the Widus Hotel here on Nov. 12.
Beyond providing exclusive healthcare discounts to qualified members of the CLMA, the partnership opens opportunities for joint community health education programs, preventive healthcare campaigns, and public information initiatives. Through the collaboration, SHMC aims to empower media professionals to help address health misinformation, encourage timely medical consultations, and make communities more aware of available healthcare services and benefits.
The medical center also underscored the importance of making government-supported healthcare programs more accessible, particularly PhilHealth’s YAKAP Cancer Screening and GAMOT benefits, for eligible patients.
As an accredited provider for YAKAP Cancer Screening and GAMOT dispensing, SHMC encourages beneficiaries to coordinate with their chosen YAKAP Clinic for appropriate screening referrals and prescriptions for covered outpatient medicines. Early cancer screening plays an important role in identifying possible abnormalities and detecting certain cancers at an earlier stage, allowing patients and their physicians to explore timely assessment and treatment options. Meanwhile, the GAMOT program helps eligible beneficiaries access covered prescribed outpatient medicines through accredited dispensing facilities.
Adding to its commitment to advancing healthcare in Central Luzon, SHMC has also introduced robotic-assisted surgery through the da Vinci Xi Surgical System. The program has expanded to cover general surgery, urology, and gynecologic procedures. The technology provides surgeons with enhanced visualization and precise instrument control during appropriate procedures, offering patients additional surgical treatment options closer to home.
Potential benefits, however, depend on the procedure and the patient’s individual medical condition.
SHMC likewise highlights the importance of PhilHealth’s No Balance Billing (NBB) policy in helping qualified patients access essential healthcare services while reducing financial barriers, subject to applicable eligibility and program guidelines. Through these initiatives, Sacred Heart Medical Center reinforces its commitment to combining medical innovation, accessible healthcare services, and meaningful community partnerships.
Ultimately, the collaboration with Central Luzon media goes beyond information sharing. It is about bringing credible health information to the public, helping Filipinos make informed healthcare decisions, and ensuring that more families know where to turn for quality medical care. Photos: Nelson Gonzales/CLMA-Pampanga
