LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The provincial government has a new mobile clinic at its disposal, thanks to the Department of Health (DoH).

Gov. Ramon Guico III received the "Bagong Pilipinas Mobile Clinic" from first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa at the Clark Freeport Zone on July 10, 2024.

The mobile clinic, a Toyota Coaster 2024 model, may be used to visit various barangay in the province and provide residents with free medical services including X-ray, ultrasound and blood screening.

According to DoH Region 1 office, the mobile clinic is equipped with an ultrasound examination light, reagent refrigerator, binocular microscope and stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, clinical centrifuge, hematocrit centrifuge, hematology analyzer, handheld electrolyte analyzer and a telemedicine set.

DoH Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said that the mobile clinic can help provide health services in the communities, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

"Health services will be faster, easier, and residents will have better access to health services, considering that rural health units do not have the needed diagnostic procedures," Sydiongco said in a press statement on Friday.

The mobile clinic will also be used during medical missions and response to disasters and calamities. It will be managed by a DoH-trained health personnel from the provincial health office.

The provincial government, on the other hand, will be in charge of the vehicle and will manage the cost of maintenance and repairs and ensure that the vehicle is always in good running condition.

Aside from Guico, La Union Gov. Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David also received a mobile clinic for her province.

Two other provinces in Region 1, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, also received mobile clinics.

The "Bagong Pilipinas" mobile clinics are part of the "Lab for All" project of the first lady to provide free medical services to communities to ensure that basic health care services are delivered to the people.