President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of a strong public healthcare system, recalling a lesson from his father, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., who said that no amount of wealth or fame matters when one is ill.

“Hindi ko makalimutan ang payo sa akin ng aking ama. At sinasabi niya sa akin: alalahanin mo ‘yung healthcare system natin,” President Marcos said during the launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) expanded primary care package or Yaman ng Kalusugan Program para sa Malayo sa Sakit (YAKAP).

The President said his father recognized that health is of paramount importance, more than riches and fame.

“Kahit gaano ka kayaman, kahit gaano ka kasikat, kapagka ikaw ay may sakit, hindi mo mararamdaman ang inyong naging pagsikat, inyong naging pagyaman. Hindi mo ma-e-enjoy ang pagsama sa inyong pamilya. Lahat ito ay mas mahalaga sa yaman, mas mahalaga sa sikat,” President Marcos quoted his father as saying.

During the YAKAP launch, the President said the idea of further expanding healthcare benefits came from the observation of the high mortality rate among patients with serious illnesses at major public hospitals.

President Marcos said many such patients started with only minor illnesses but were unable to seek treatment in hospitals due to transportation costs that added to the family’s financial burden.

Minor illnesses could have been treated at government clinics or rural health units, but those facilities previously lacked funds, equipment, and medical professionals, the President said.

Through YAKAP, “hindi kailangang pumunta pa sa regional hospital, sa tertiary care hospital, sa provincial hospital, eh kaya naman doon sa mas maliliit. Kaya ito ‘yung aming ginawa,” President Marcos said. | PND