Medicard : 25 years of Building a Healthy Nation

With nearly half a million members and over 11,000 accredited doctors, specialists and dentists in over 500 hospitals, who would have thought that the Medicard of today started with just one man's vision to set aside P1.00 a day for healthcare?

This man is Dr. Nicanor D. Montoya, who believed that if a person could save this small amount of money everyday, he could already afford his hospitalization. From this basic philosophy, MediCard (Philippines) Inc. was born.

Medicard, which mission is to provide quality comprehensive healthcare services to manual Filipinos at cost they could afford, celebrated its 25 years of building a healthy nation last May 15 at Makati Shangri la Hotel, Rizal Ballroom.

The venue is filled with guests and sumptous foods. 

The program started and were hosted by Ms. Iya Villania and Mr. Ryan Agoncillo.

Dr. Nicanor D. Montoya giving a speech on how Medicard began.

Artists from TV5 also entertained us by performing astounding song numbers.

On the said event, Medicard unveiled a refreshed corporate logo which consists of four Rx symbols that rotate clockwise forming a single icon to convey the message to Medicard clients that they can avail of affordable medical services round the clock through its partner doctors and medical institutions.

This symbolizes its rebirth after 25 years of being a pioneering HMO in the Philippines. This logo is part  of a corporate strategy that stresses the company's brand promise of giving the best healthcare available. The new logo also embodies MediCard's corporate culture.

"We place an extremely strong emphasis on doing business the right way for both our customers and our employees. That means caring for them and treating them more as partners, being responsive, and anticipating their needs", Dr. Montoya said.

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Location: 8th Floor World Center Building, 330 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
Hotline: (02) 884 9999
Website: http://www.medicardphils.com
Facebook page: Medicard Philippines, Inc.

One SHOT for LIFE

How adorable are these cute little angels?

When parents bring their newborn baby home from the hospital, many are filled with joy and excitement about what lies ahead as their infant begins to grow and develop.

But what happens when we will never hear their laughter? When one of them never reaches kindergarten? Or won’t even get to throw their first birthdays?

Last Thursday, I was tagged along by my good friend Josephine (visit her blog here) to an event she was invited in. The speaker tackled about the Rotavirus vaccine which will be included in theExpanded Program on Immunization (EPI) by the Department of Health (DOH).

As a nurse, I would love to share this to everyone especially to my co-nurses as well as the parents, and hopefully be supported and spread.

Nowadays, diarrhea is one of the most common cause of death in children. In the Philippines and worldwide, diarrhea is the second leading killer of children aged 5 years old. Everyday, 1,500 children around the world die because of Rotavirus-related diarrhea.

In the Philippines, more than 13 Filipino children die due to diarrhea everyday.

Rotavirus: the most common and lethal form of diarrhea

Parents, be alarmed. Don’t dismiss “pagtatae” (diarrhea) as a trivial inconvenience. Because diarrhea affects nutrient absorption, it leads to lasting impact on the growth and development of a child. It has been calculated that children who regularly suffer from it in the first 2 years of life can lead to a loss of 10 IQ points and 12 months of schooling by 9 years of age.

Because of this, the rotavirus-related deaths counts as the most important missions countries must take-especially as this disease is highly preventable through vaccination. In the Philippines, diarrheal deaths accounts for at least 12% among children under five in the country.

The World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) recommends that rotavirus vaccines be included in all national immunization programs. By preventing diarrheal deaths among children thru rotavirus vaccination, the country will be able to substantially reduce overall child mortality in the Philippines’ goal towards achievement of the fourth Millenium Development Goal by 2015

Rotavirus vaccine

Rotarix facts:

Rotarix is given as a two-dose series that can be started when an infant is as young as six weeks old. The second dose can be given as early as four weeks later and must be given before the baby is 24 weeks old. Infants will likely get Rotarix at their two- and four-month checkups. (Source)

Dr. Salvacion Gatchalian, Director, Clinical R&D and Medical Affairs for GlaxoSmithkline Philippines says “We need to be serious about saving our children from the grip of this burdensome but highly preventable disease.”

I hope that this will be properly implemented in the Philippines, as well as with the other countries. Let us support this program and spread this bit of helpful information.

Thirteen children have died yesterday from diarrhea related illnesses. But with this vaccine, millions do not have to suffer the same fate.