On March 17 in Marikina City and March 24 in Santa Rosa, Laguna, public sports complexes became centers of compassion and accessible healthcare as thousands of residents gathered for the LAB for All medical missions.
Held at the Marikina Sports Center and the Santa Rosa Multipurpose Sports Complex, the initiatives brought together local government units, healthcare workers, volunteers, and private sector partners to provide free laboratory services, medical consultations, prenatal check-ups, and essential healthcare assistance to underserved communities.
Among the key Kaagapay partners supporting the initiative was Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc., which helped address a critical healthcare gap by providing free medicines to beneficiaries on-site.
Expanding Access to Medicines and Care
For many Filipino families, access to healthcare services and medicines remains a financial challenge. Through its participation in LAB for All, Bell-Kenz Pharma enabled patients to receive immediate access to prescribed medicines, helping reduce treatment delays and easing the financial burden on low-income households.
One of the beneficiaries, Evelyn Ballaran, 40, an expectant mother who is eight months pregnant with her fourth child, shared how the initiative provided both relief and reassurance.
“Malapit na po akong manganak kaya mas kinakabahan ako,” she said. “Hindi laging madali magpa-check-up kapag may ibang gastusin sa bahay.”
Receiving free medicines during the medical mission helped ease her immediate concerns. “Mas nakakagaan po sa loob. Hindi na ako mag-aalala kung saan kukuha ng gamot,” she added.
Her experience reflected the realities faced by many beneficiaries who attended the outreach activities in both cities.
According to Dr. Luis Raymond T. Go, Bell-Kenz Pharma Medical Director, the company’s involvement aligns with its commitment to making healthcare more accessible to Filipino communities.
“At Bell-Kenz Pharma, we believe healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for a few,” Dr. Go said. “Through initiatives like LAB for All, we are able to extend meaningful support to communities by helping provide not only medical consultations, but also the medicines patients need to begin their recovery and care immediately.”
He added that stronger collaboration between the private sector, local governments, and healthcare organizations remains essential in addressing healthcare accessibility gaps nationwide.
Strengthening Public-Private Collaboration
Across both venues, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and partner organizations worked together to serve senior citizens, parents seeking medical advice, and pregnant women requiring prenatal care.
In Marikina, the large-scale operation required coordinated crowd management and security support from the Philippine National Police under the leadership of Police Colonel Jenny Tecson. Police personnel assisted elderly attendees, pregnant women, and children while ensuring orderly movement throughout the venue.
Tecson also acknowledged the cooperation of the local government led by Marjorie Ann "Maan" Teodoro and Mark Castro, emphasizing that initiatives of this scale succeed through strong coordination among civic institutions, healthcare partners, and local communities.
Continuing Commitment to Community Healthcare
Bell-Kenz Pharma’s participation in LAB for All reflects the company’s continuing commitment to community-centered healthcare initiatives that promote inclusive and accessible medical support for Filipinos.
As the Marikina and Santa Rosa medical missions concluded, the impact extended beyond healthcare services delivered. Families received much-needed medical attention, expectant mothers gained reassurance, and communities experienced firsthand the value of accessible and compassionate healthcare.
For beneficiaries like Evelyn Ballaran, the initiative demonstrated how timely healthcare intervention — supported by private organizations committed to public welfare — can create a meaningful and lasting impact in everyday lives.
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