Village Connect
Access to healthcare remains a challenge for many communities, particularly for families who often postpone medical consultations due to financial limitations. In San Pablo City, Laguna, hundreds of residents were given the opportunity to receive free medical care and diagnostic services through a large-scale health initiative organized by SM Foundation.
Held at SM City San Pablo, the medical mission served as SM Foundation’s 50th outreach activity for the year, bringing essential healthcare services closer to communities and helping residents take proactive steps toward better health.
The program benefited residents from 10 barangays, including San Rafael, San Roque, San Nicolas, Soledad, Santisimo Rosario, San Isidro, Atisan, San Lucas, Barangay 6-D, and Barangay 2-D. Throughout the activity, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and partner organizations worked together to provide a wide range of services designed to promote early detection and preventive care.
More than 1,500 healthcare services were delivered during the mission. These included 835 medical consultations, 109 dental procedures, 150 optical consultations, 100 electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, 84 X-ray examinations, and 92 bone scans. Residents also received free laboratory screenings for blood sugar, cholesterol, uric acid, and hemoglobin levels.
For many attendees, the medical mission provided access to diagnostic tests and consultations that would otherwise be difficult to afford. Beyond treatment, the initiative emphasized the importance of identifying health risks before they develop into serious conditions.
According to San Pablo City Health Officer Dr. Mercydina Adbona Caponcon, seeking medical attention at the earliest sign of symptoms is crucial in preventing complications.
She explained that people should consult healthcare professionals even when symptoms appear minor, as waiting too long can allow illnesses to worsen without their knowledge. Based on observations in the city, hypertension and diabetes remain among the most common health concerns, with some patients only seeking treatment after complications have already developed.
Dr. Caponcon also highlighted how community medical missions help bridge healthcare gaps by connecting residents to physicians, diagnostic services, medications, and government health programs. Many families, she noted, struggle to prioritize healthcare because of limited financial resources, making free medical services especially valuable.
The success of the mission was made possible through the collaboration of SM Foundation, SM Supermalls, the City Health Office of San Pablo, SPC Medical, the Philippine Red Cross, the Provincial Health Office, San Pablo Infinity 104 MJF Lions Club International, and Acebedo Optical.
Among the services offered, free eye consultations drew significant participation, with 150 residents receiving optical assessments that could help detect vision problems and improve quality of life.
For SM Foundation Resident Physician Dr. Bless Bertos, the mission represents more than the distribution of free medicines. She emphasized that the program is designed to provide comprehensive healthcare by combining consultations, diagnostic testing, medical guidance, and treatment recommendations.
By conducting the medical mission annually in San Pablo City, healthcare providers are able to establish continuity of care and monitor patients over time. Individuals who require further treatment are referred to local health centers, ensuring they continue to receive medical attention even after the outreach activity ends.
Through initiatives such as these, SM Foundation continues to strengthen community healthcare access, encouraging residents to prioritize prevention, early diagnosis, and long-term wellness while bringing vital medical services closer to the people who need them most.
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