President Marcos accepts proposal on improving the healthcare system

CEBU, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has accepted the recommendations for the country's healthcare solutions after the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) led by Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz endorsed the work plan recently.

In a statement released by PSAC, it said that the proposals made by the members of PSAC’s health group are focused on improving the nation’s healthcare system through closer collaboration between the government and private sector.

Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships, PSAC suggested, will start addressing the most pressing health issues of Filipinos in the first 100 days of the administration.

Headed by Ayala Healthcare CEO Paolo Borromeo, the Healthcare group is composed of a diverse set of health experts, including MediCard Philippines President and CEO Doctor Nicky Montoya, Filipino-American molecular biologist of the University of Sto. Tomas and OCTA researcher, Fr. Nick Austriaco, Unilab President and CEO Clinton Campos Hess, and former FDA director Dr. Eric Domingo.

Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire and PhilHealth officials, Dr. Clementine Bautista and Atty. Eli Dino Santos, were also present during the discussions and provided support and guidance.

This PSAC meeting with President Marcos came after the Agriculture and Digital Infrastructure groups presented their recommendations on July 7 and August 3, respectively.

PSAC added that the Council is expected to present more recommendations from the Jobs, Build Build Build and Tourism sector working groups in the coming weeks. — GMR (FREEMAN)