It was a long and early drive from Novaliches to Cavite — a journey that took us from the crawl of city traffic to the rush of expressways, and finally, to the calm of quieter streets.
But the destination promised something worth every kilometer: a first look at what could redefine Philippine healthcare.
Inside mWell’s new AI-powered Primary Care Facility (PCF), the country’s first of its kind, officials from mWell, the digital health arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), joined forces with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to sign a landmark partnership that could finally bring Universal Health Care to every Filipino—digitally.
The goal? To make healthcare accessible to everyone, from city dwellers to remote islanders, through the eGov PH App, providing a foundational step toward true health equity.
mWell Health ID: Powering a National Integrated System
The core of this collaboration is the integration of mWell’s services into the eGov PH App, a platform already used by over 18 million registered Filipinos. This strategic move positions mWell as the health engine for the government’s eGov platform, establishing an interoperable healthcare infrastructure aligned with the Digital Philippines agenda and UHC goals, including programs like the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP).
The mWell Health ID is the system’s key component, functioning as a secure, digital health passport that stores lifetime personal health records. This integration will give eGov PH users seamless access to:
- Consultations with thousands of primary care doctors, specialists, and mind health experts.
- One-tap booking for appointments and secure record sharing.
- Direct access to relevant government health programs.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of MPIC and mWell, affirmed the partnership’s impact: “Together with government, we will close the healthcare gap and uplift quality of life in every community.” DICT Secretary Henry R. Aguda noted that the system connects patients, doctors, and public institutions.
Gerb Inajada, mWell’s Chief Technology Officer, summarized the focus: “We want to remove the friction between patients, doctors, and government by making healthcare services seamlessly accessible through a single, trusted digital gateway. This ensures that every Filipino, wherever they are, can have access to care without borders.”
AI and Advanced Infrastructure for Enhanced Care
The partnership leverages mWell’s robust digital platform, which solidified its leadership in the Philippines following the acquisition and integration of KonsultaMD. This allows patients to access virtual consultations 24/7, receive e-prescriptions, and obtain laboratory referrals.
Technology also streamlines care at the new PCF. Artificial Intelligence is deployed to assist doctors with real-time transcription and summarization of consultations, drastically reducing administrative burdens and potentially cutting paperwork by up to 40%. Chaye Cabal-Revilla, mWell President and CEO, explained the benefit: “AI helps us give doctors their time back… they can focus on what truly matters—listening and caring.”
Bridging Geographic Barriers with Innovative Outreach
Addressing the long-standing challenge of healthcare access in remote areas, mWell and DICT are extending services to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) through targeted, inventive programs:
- mWell OnTheGo “Clinic-in-a-Bag”: A portable telehealth solution deployed to reach remote barangays, bedridden patients, Indigenous Peoples’ communities, and even military personnel.
- BangkaHealth: This innovative service brings telemedicine directly to families living in houses on stilts in Sulu via small boats.
- Drone Medicine Delivery: Used to transport essential prescriptions and supplies rapidly to isolated islands.
These pioneering efforts, coupled with mWell’s support for First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ Lab for All initiative, ensure that the benefits of digital healthcare form a truly robust and inclusive national network.
The Road Ahead
This collaboration represents a decisive convergence of public policy and private innovation, establishing a clear, actionable blueprint for a national digital health system.
The shared vision is to create a future where reliable healthcare access is affirmed as a civic utility for all. The commitment displayed at the signing signals a profound institutional drive to build the framework for a healthier, smarter Philippines, demonstrating that distance no longer dictates disadvantage.
