Caring Beyond Present, A Gift for Overmorrow: A Vision for Sustainable Philippine Healthcare

How do we ensure that healthcare is not only for today, but also for tomorrow?

A thought-provoking question set the tone for the Manila Bulletin’s 2nd Sustainability Focus Session, held on April 30, 2025, at the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom in the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building of the University of Santo Tomas. As the healthcare landscape in the Philippines continues to face evolving and oftentimes unpredictable challenges, this event offered a moment of clarity and conviction, further placing the spotlight on the innovations and commitments made toward a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Photos by John Alfred Fernandez

Continuing from the first session on the power and real estate sector last September 2024, the second installment of Manila Bulletin’s Sustainability Focus Session delves into the healthcare sector. This was expounded on by guest speakers who offered views from professional, corporate, and governmental standpoints regarding their efforts to make healthcare accessible and sustainable for different walks of life.

Kicking off the morning session was a powerful address by the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary, Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, who provided an unflinching overview of the Philippine healthcare system. He spoke about persistent barriers in reaching the country’s most marginalized communities and laid out urgent national priorities: immunization, maternal health, water sanitation, hygiene, and the fight against both communicable and non-communicable diseases. These issues, he stressed, were not stand-alone issues but interconnected pillars in building a truly healthy nation.

Joining him was DOH Assistant Secretary, Dr. Albert Domingo, who took the discussion further by connecting the dots between health and the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For Dr. Domingo, achieving universal health coverage meant working on every front, from clean water to quality education, and ensuring that health is no longer siloed but interwoven with all facets of sustainable development. 

Manila Bulletin’s own project head for the Sustainability Focus Session, Phillip Cu-Unjieng, framed the event by reintroducing the pressing health challenges Filipinos face and a strong lineup of partner organizations ready to act. Among them was Dr. Jose Solllano, Medical Director at Healthway Cancer Care Hospital, who delivered a rousing call to the students in attendance, by telling them to “begin with a purpose, make the world big in your eyes.” He empowered students to endeavor for their future by committing to lifelong learning, displaying versatility, and changing mindsets. He called on the youth since they play capable roles towards globally sustainable healthcare. 

From vision to application, The Medical City also joined virtually to share its practical steps as a responsible healthcare institution. Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Stuart Bennett, discussed their commitment to meeting patient needs through a balance of affordability and quality, guided by a robust environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework. Their approach champions environmental responsibility, social inclusion, and ethical governance, all of which are designed to make healthcare sustainable from the inside out.

While many Filipinos recognize the retail giant, Watsons Pharmacy, as a one-stop beauty store, it actually offers much more than that. Watsons Pharmacy, a well-known retail company, represented by Assistant Vice President Bless Marcos-Espin, highlighted the company’s grassroots strategy: bringing health services directly to communities through more accessible stores offering vaccinations and basic medical care. Their solutions also address patient adherence through affordable Watsons Generics and O+O (Offline and Online) platforms, which extend healthcare to even the busiest and most remote Filipino communities. 

The afternoon session brought renewed focus on accessible nutrition and community wellness for all Filipinos. The first keynote speaker and founder of Mesa ni Misis,  Juana Manahan Yupangco, took the stage to promote sustainable, plant-based diets and champion local produce. With a nod to the Bahay Kubo song, she made the case for returning to nutrient-rich, locally sourced vegetables and highlighted how eating healthy is not only an act of self-care, but rather an environmental and cultural choice. “Healthier eating is our investment in our future selves,” she reminded. 

In a more conversational setting, Maxicare’s Chief Strategy Officer, Kurleigh Gacutan, sat down with host Jackie Go for a fireside chat. He explained that for Maxicare, “Sustainability begins with accessibility.” Their clinics are strategically placed based on need, not just foot traffic. He advocated for preventive care and a tech-toward approach, making checkups as easy and familiar as ordering food online. His advice to aspiring healthcare professionals? To lead with their head and to care with their heart. 

From education to execution, UST’s very own Chief Dietitian, Maureen D. Sarmargo, brought the discussion closer to home. Drawing on the parallels between the nutrition care process and nursing care plans, she emphasized early screening, plant-based diets, telehealth, and energy-efficient kitchen practices as sustainable solutions to the triple burden of nutrition: overnutrition, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiency. 

Rounding out the session was The Generics Pharmacy, represented by Carole Kaye C. Malenab, Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. Drugstore Head of Corporate Affairs. With directness and purpose, she reaffirmed the company’s commitment to affordable and trustworthy healthcare. Dispelling the myth that generic means ‘lower quality,’ she emphasized digital transformation and telepharmaceutical care. She also shared a deeply ingrained philosophy where she believed that sustainability is not just a side project, but rather, the way we work consistently, deliberately, and with care. 

By the end of the day, one message rang loud and clear: the future of Philippine healthcare depends not just on new policies or technologies, but also on the commitment of individuals, companies, and the government to build a system that heals, empowers, and endures. Through this gathering of minds and missions, the Manila Bulletin’s 2nd Sustainability Focus Session has not just envisioned a better tomorrow – it has invited everyone to make it a vision that finally comes to life.