Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s (MPIC) mWell, the Philippines’ health and wellness mega app leads the digital healthcare transformation of Turtle Islands by providing telemedicine services to residents of this geographically isolated community in Tawi-Tawi.
In partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), mWell reached Turtle Islands as part of the Broadband ng Masa (BBM) initiative launched to provide better access and connectivity in areas with little to no internet connection.
For residents of Turtle Islands, it would take long hours of boat travel to reach the nearest health facility. Recognizing the plight of its residents, mWell together with DICT and Huawei Philippines responded to the need for accessible and convenient healthcare by delivering mWell OnTheGo.
This groundbreaking portable digital clinic enables almost 6,000 island residents to easily reach doctors 24/7 using the mWell app. The mWell platform delivers essential health services including online doctor consultation, e-prescription, and lab referrals. With the portable clinic, doctors are easily accessible using the mWell app on the Huawei Tablet and internet service provided to the community.
“Our goal is for MWell to demolish the barriers that prevent our countrymen in remote areas from receiving quality healthcare. We are always on the lookout for partnerships that enable us to do just that,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, mWell chairman and MPIC chairman and chief executive officer (CEO).
Chaye Cabal-Revilla, mWell CEO and president and MPIC chief finance, risk and sustainability officer, said as the country’s first and only health and wellness mega app, mWell’s purpose is to make health and wellness accessible, available, and affordable to all Filipinos anytime, anywhere.
“ Recognizing that good health is very important for livelihood and improving the overall quality of life, we will continue to be an instrument for our country’s sustainable development,” Cabal-Revilla said.
Bringing healthcare to Sacol Island, Zamboanga
Just like Turtle Islands, there are also no doctors available in Sacol Island, Zamboanga. Residents of this remote community faced significant challenges in accessing essential healthcare service. Last year, as part of the DICT’s Smart Village initiative, the mWell Team joined DICT Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa M. Camba to equip Sacol Island in Zamboanga with mWell OnTheGo.
“We are grateful to Huawei and mWell for responding to our request to make available much needed telemedicine services to Sacol. This island of 4 barangays and 12,000 people now have access to medical experts from all over the country” said DICT Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa M. Camba.
This is part of mWell’s commitment to the Smart Village Initiative which aims to provide necessary ICT tools and access to connectivity to improve and expand services in healthcare, education, agriculture, and local governance.
