Building a healthier future starts today

When people hear “sustainability,” they often think only of the environment. But as defined by the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainability goes far beyond nature. At its core is the commitment to ensure good health and wellbeing for all—recognizing that a healthy population, supported by a truly sustainable healthcare system, is fundamental to a thriving and resilient society.

- REY ROBES ILAGAN

This principle took center stage during the second Manila Bulletin Sustainability Focus Session, held on April 30 at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila. The event gathered health leaders, policy experts, and private sector stakeholders to shape a shared vision for the country’s healthcare future.

With the theme “Envisioning the Future of Healthcare,” the session emphasized that sustainability in healthcare isn’t just about infrastructure or technology—it’s fundamentally about people.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, speaking via a recorded keynote message, set the tone by highlighting the role of proper nutrition and equitable access to medicine in achieving universal and sustainable healthcare. Secretary Herbosa described the enactment of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act as a historic milestone in affirming healthcare as a fundamental right for every Filipino.

“The UHC Act emphasizes the crucial role of primary care, defined as the initial contact, accessible, continuous, comprehensive, and coordinated care that includes a range of services for all presenting conditions,” he said.