THE doctor’s fee for a medical consultation would cost P500 to P800, depending on the hospital; X-ray for an estimated P250 to P500; electrocardiography (ECG) for P250, P700 to P2,000; glucose test for P300 to P400; and bone scanning for P350 to P700.
These are the basic expenses that people may need for their medical expenses every year. However, the poor people or even the middle class might not afford this expense.
For Ellen Megallen, a Watson assistant pharmacist, with the minimum wage she receives, it is not practical to have all the members of her family to undergo a medical checkup yearly.
“So if there is a free checkup, I take the opportunity,” Megallen said.
On Tuesday Watsons Personal Care Stores conducted its first medical mission among its 2,000 employees in Sta. Mesa.
The program includes medical consultations, diagnostic examinations like X-ray, ECG, glucose check, bone scanning and blood pressure check.
It also gave a workshop that tackled child nutrition and managing chronic illnesses.
Watsons Philippines CEO Robert Sun said the program was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility. It aims to boost the productivity of each of the health firm’s employees.
He said in an interview that taking care of their employees, the pharmacists and other workers would allow them to exercise their “Yes, I care” program of Watsons Philippines.
“This is not just business. We have a role to give more to life,” Sun said.
“We thought that before we help other people, why not start inside our home? Why not we start from taking care of our employees before going to a charity outside,” Sun added.
From its total of 4,000 employees, 2,000 signed up for the medical mission with their families.
Watsons Philippines has allocated P1 million worth of medicines for the event.
Megallen has been working with Watsons Philippines, Cubao branch as assistant pharmacist for almost six years now.
“I stayed at Watsons because of its many benefits. Second, it takes care of its employees,” she noted.
Sun said due to the overwhelming experience of Watsons first charity project, the company plans to conduct this every year nationwide.
He said Watsons would do the same in all Watsons branches in Metro Manila, then the whole of Luzon until it reaches to Mindanao.
Watsons has 248 stores nationwide.
“We are not just a beauty store. We are also a health store which offers medicines for diabetes, hypertension, etc,” Watsons Marketing Director Viki Encarnacion said in a press briefing.
Watsons Group, through the Watsons Personal Care Stores in the Philippines, is one of the world’s leading health, beauty and lifestyle retailers in the country.
Its project partners are SM Foundation and Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko.
