Until her last breath, former lawmaker and health advocate Gina Reyes-Mandanas pushed for free check ups and zero balance billing as a nominee of #51 Anakalusugan party-list.
Reyes-Mandanas, who passed away Thursday, actively campaigned for wider PhilHealth coverage under the Universal Health Care Act.
“Ate Gina would always say that being able to avail of a check up or see a doctor is considered a privilege by most Filipinos when it should be a right guaranteed by the state. She has always pushed for ‘zero balance billing’ so that patients not only get a clean bill of health but a clean bill of hospitalization, too,” Anakalusugan party-list said in a statement.
In a bid to ensure equitable access to health care, Reyes-Mandanas had been at the forefront of distributing the Kalusugan Health Kard – a project of Anakalusugan – that allows patients to avail of free medical services in any government hospitals within the province and other accredited health facilities.
She has also supported the unity call of the tandem of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“She passed away deliriously murmuring BBM, Sara UniTeam on her death bed,” said her husband, Batangas Gov. Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas.
Earlier, the party-list said it is considering Fr. Ernesto “Totit” Mandanas Jr., a strong health advocate, as one of its nominees for the May 9 elections, along the line of succession as provided for under election rules.
Fr. Totit, who served in various parishes, is the younger brother of Gov. Mandanas.
“Just as we are mourning, we also take heart that we will continue to push for Ate Gina’s desire for every Filipino to have equitable access to free health services,” Anakalusugan said.
