22/07/2026
Meditek Medical Clinic and Laboratory ❤️🩺
Healthcare should bring hope—not financial hardship. 💙
Maraming Salamat Sir Normando sa iyong tiwala sa Meditek at sa pagbahagi ng iyong kwento.💙
𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀
By: Kristine G. Fontanoz
A 51-year-old dialysis patient, Normando M. Garin from Mapandan, Pangasinan, once thought that his life would only last for another one or two years and feared that he would eventually die once he ran out of money and could no longer afford his medical treatments.
“Say kwankod bilay ko dati, no anggapo lay ibayar, baka sakey o dwaran taon et unpatey lay too.” (“I used to tell myself that once I ran out of money, I would probably only live for another one or two years and die.”) Normando has been undergoing dialysis for the past three years, a condition he never imagined would become part of his life.
Normando’s experience reflects a common challenge faced by many ordinary Filipinos who need regular medical treatment amid the continuously increasing cost of healthcare expenses. But his hope to have a longer life was renewed when he knew that his dialysis treatments, check-ups and medications are now covered by PhilHealth with no out-of-pocket expenses. Nen wala irayan programa, say kwankod sarilik, at least nasuldungay bilay tayo” (With these programs, I now tell myself that my life will be extended), he added.
With the institutionalization of the 156 dialysis sessions annually for Filipinos with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Normando no longer has to worry about undergoing dialysis three times a week. Because he is now more vulnerable to infections and other illnesses, he also needs regular check-ups for other medical conditions. For this reason, he is also grateful for PhilHealth's enhanced outpatient benefit packages—Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) and Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT)—through which he receives free consultations, laboratory tests, and essential medicines. Normando now avails of these outpatient services at Meditek Medical Clinic & Laboratory, his chosen YAKAP-accredited clinic in Mapandan, Pangasinan. “Marakep ta aray laboratory ya aga covered diman ed dialysis clinic, naaavail mi dya. Tan makakala kami libren tambal. Atleast agmila dagdag ya problema ya saliwen.” (It's nice because we can get the laboratory tests here that aren't covered by the dialysis clinic. We also receive free medicines. At least we no longer have to worry about buying them.) When asked why he chose Meditek, he said “Apilik so Meditek ta komportable ak san marakep so approach na masisirbi” (I chose Meditek because I feel comfortable there, and the staff approaches treat patients well).
Among the diagnostic and laboratory services he has availed of under the YAKAP Program are Complete Blood Count (CBC), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Lipid Profile, Creatinine and Chest X-ray. He was also given medications to treat various illnesses under the GAMOT Program. Grateful for the support he receives, Normando shared, “Bali bali tan marakep ta makakatulong ed sikami ran makaukulan na mansasakit. Makakala kami na tambal na nakaukulan na pamaabig na laman.” (It is good because it helps people like us who are sick. We receive the medicines we need for free, which help improve our health.)
Apart from these outpatient and primary care benefits that Normando is currently availing, he was also able to avail of PhilHealth’s inpatient benefits.
In 2022, he was confined due to complications from diabetes and was able to avail of PhilHealth’s benefits, which helped cover the cost of his hospitalization. The following year, he underwent treatment for diabetic retinopathy at San Carlos Eye Center, another complication of his diabetes. The procedure was also covered by PhilHealth, easing his family’s financial burden while helping preserve his vision.
As he continues to live each day while managing his illnesses, Normando expressed his heartfelt gratitude to PhilHealth for the assistance and support he has received. “Balbalaeg ya salamat ed PhilHealth. Kumon ta tultuloy labat lay programa tapyan tultuloy ya natulungan iray kaparak ya mansasakit.” (Many thanks to PhilHealth. I hope that these programs will continue so that more people like us who are sick will continue to receive help.)
