Public school campuses across the country will soon house their own medical clinics, offering free check-ups, laboratory tests, and medicines to students and staff, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced.
The initiative, launched in partnership with healthcare provider 1Life Inc., aims to set up primary care facilities directly inside schools under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) YAKAP Program.
“We are bringing basic healthcare straight to our campuses,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a news release on Thursday.
“Healthy learners and healthy teachers are the foundation of a better education system,” he added.
Under the agreement, participating schools must allocate a minimum space of 60 square meters for the medical facility. In turn, 1Life Inc. will equip the hubs with digital diagnostic tools, essential emergency supplies, and telemedicine equipment.
The institutional clinics will prioritize student wellness by offering specialized developmental screenings designed for the early detection of conditions that could hinder academic progress. All services rendered through the program will be fully covered by PhilHealth YAKAP benefits.
“The program comes at zero cost to DepEd and requires no school funding,” DepEd said.
“This health infrastructure integration… ensures all public schools nationwide are well-resourced, specifically by giving campuses immediate access to functional clinics and reliable healthcare,” the agency added.
The program also extends its services to school personnel, granting teachers and staff access to free annual executive medical check-ups conducted right on campus. Additionally, eligible parents and their dependents can avail themselves of consultations, basic laboratory exams, and maintenance medicines through the PhilHealth program.
“We look forward to our collaboration with DepEd by supporting them with free accessible healthcare services onsite, providing learners and teachers with preventive care,” 1Life, Inc. President Niño Namoco said in a news release.
To ensure patient safety, DepEd emphasized that all electronic medical records stored within the clinics will be protected under strict data privacy protocols and will not be disclosed without written consent.
The healthcare roll-out is slated to benefit the public school community just in time for the opening of classes on June 8 under the newly implemented three-term academic calendar.