Nickel Asia Corp. will enroll all Guiuananons in a digital health platform and improve access to healthcare in Guiuan, Eastern Samar

Publicly traded natural resource development company Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), in partnership with Guiuan Municipality, is financing the rollout of CareSpan’s digital health platform to modernize and improve healthcare in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The platform, called CareSpan, is one of four health care systems approved under the Universal Health Care (UHC) law. Once residents are registered in the system, it will be easier to take advantage of the PhilHealth Konsulta package, which includes consultations, health screenings, selected laboratory tests and essential medicines.

Currently, Guiuan’s Rural Health Unit II is designed to serve a population of 20,000 to 30,000 people and is staffed by a municipal health officer, a public health nurse, two midwives and a sanitary inspector. However, as the municipality has a population of 53,361, which is almost double the unit’s intended capacity, healthcare services may face challenges in meeting the needs of the growing community.

To address these gaps, NAC, through its philanthropic arm NAC Foundation Inc., is working. (NACFI), together with CareSpan Asia Inc. and the local government of Guiuan to organize a registration event that will benefit the entire community.

“We are very pleased to partner with Nickel Asia Corporation and the LGU of Guiuan in this groundbreaking project,” said Raymond Vidal Marañon, CEO of CareSpan Asia Inc. “Our digital health platform is designed to bridge the gap in healthcare access, and through this partnership we are making significant progress to ensure that every Guiuan resident can receive quality care, regardless of their location.”

In addition to the PhilHealth Konsulta package, the platform features an electronic medical record (EMR) system and remote patient monitoring (RPM) capabilities. These tools allow healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients’ health and create personalized treatment plans based on patients’ health history. These are especially useful for managing chronic conditions in remote areas, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“We are honored that Guiuan is the first in Samar and Visayas to receive this wonderful program. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our partners, Nickel Asia Corporation and CareSpan Asia. This represents the partnership between the government and the private sector,” said Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan of Guiuan, Eastern Samar

This improvement is significant for the residents of Manicani Island, part of Guiuan, where one of NAC’s subsidiaries, Hinatuan Mining Corporation-Manicani, operates.

Currently, the island relies heavily on Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and outside assistance for basic medical services as reaching Guiuan requires a 30-minute to an hour boat ride.

“Supporting the Universal Healthcare Act reflects our commitment to SDG 3 for good health and SDG 1 to end poverty. Research shows that every Filipino family is one illness away from bankruptcy. This partnership will benefit families in Guiuan by helping them avoid serious financial hardship due to medical expenses,” said Jose Bayani Baylon, Senior Vice President for Sustainability, Risk, Corporate Affairs, and Communications at Nickel Asia Corporation , and president of the NAC Foundation. Inc.

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