DoH receives P500M worth of medical equipment from Okada Foundation

IN what has become its single largest charitable contribution thus far, the Okada Foundation Inc. (OFI) recently donated P500 million worth of medical equipment to the Department of Health (DoH).

"We are profoundly moved by the generous donation of P500 million worth of medical equipment from the Okada Foundation," said Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa during the signing ceremony of an agreement between OFI and the DoH.

OKADA DONATES TO DOH From left are Dr. Wenceslao Lauderes, medical center chief II at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center; Dr. Ariel Valencia, assistant secretary of the Department of Health; James Lorenzana, president of Okada Foundation Inc.; Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, health secretary; and Hajime Tokuda, TRLEI director. PHOTO FROM OKADA

Through this latest effort, OFI once again reaffirmed its commitment to support both private and public partnerships in the Philippine health care sector. Specifically, the state-of-the art medical equipment would be used in a number of key DoH-partnered hospitals across the country, including the Philippine General Hospital, the Philippine Orthopedic Center, San Lazaro Hospital, the Lung Center of the Philippines, Tondo Medical Center and the Jose R. Reyes Medical Center.

"The Okada Foundation has always been a valued ally of the DoH even when I was first appointed to my office. They were the ones who reached out and offered their help," Herbosa recalled.

James Lorenzana, president of OFI, noted that the decision to make this substantial donation was an easy one to make.

"The foundation was completely aligned with Secretary Herbosa's vision of bridging the gap between public and private health care facilities in terms of access to modern medical technology and services," he underscored.

"We believe every Filipino deserves the same high standard of care, whether they visit a private or public hospital. By working together, we can all make a more significant impact, reaching more hospitals and ultimately saving more lives," Lorenzana added.

Herbosa echoed this sentiment, as he pointed out that access to reliable and advanced medical equipment was no longer a luxury but a necessity. He further shared that many of the newly donated medical devices were capable of performing biopsies and tissue examinations, which were crucial for the early detection and treatment of cancer.

"Last year, cancer claimed more than 20,000 Filipino lives, making it the second-leading cause of death in the country. It is crucial that doctors and health care professionals have the best equipment at their disposal in order to provide quality care," the health secretary noted.

Lorenzana reassured everyone of the OFI's commitment to continuing its partnership with the DoH for years to come.

"May this partnership inspire more initiatives that uplift our health care system and the lives of all Filipinos," he concluded.