Preventive healthcare services were brought closer to communities in Pampanga as Unilab partnered with Mercury Drug Corporation to launch free bone and blood screening activities aimed at promoting early detection of common but often overlooked health conditions.
The initiative was first rolled out in Angeles City, Pampanga, offering residents access to free screening services that help identify risks related to bone density loss and blood disorders.
Shared Commitment to Health
Unilab representatives emphasized the importance of making preventive healthcare more accessible, especially for conditions that are not routinely screened.
“We provide free bone scanning and blood screening because these are not common services that are offered to our valued consumers. We are grateful to our long-time partner, Mercury Drug, which has the widest network of stores nationwide, for enabling us to reach out to them,” said Marlon Carpizo during the activity held at Mercury Drug Drive Thru in Sto. Cristo, Angeles City.
Mercury Drug also underscored the value of prevention and early awareness among patients.
“We hope that through this activity, our customers will be able to appreciate the importance of health; that prevention is better than cure by understanding potential health risks and taking proactive steps to protect their well-being,” said Ronaldo Rañada.
He also noted that the program helps ease financial burden for many customers by offering free access to essential screening services.
One beneficiary, Mario Lazatin, shared that the experience helped him better understand his bone health condition.
He said the screening provided a useful baseline for bone density and raised awareness on age-related bone fragility, emphasizing the importance of early monitoring before complications occur.
Bone and Blood Health
Health professionals stressed that early screening plays a key role in detecting conditions such as anemia and osteoporosis before symptoms become severe.
“Blood screening can identify conditions such as anemia, while bone screening can detect low bone density and osteoporosis. Early diagnosis allows timely treatment and preventive measures,” said Dr. Maria Venielle Bonus-Bungay.
She encouraged the public to undergo regular checkups, maintain a balanced diet, stay physically active, and join free screening programs when available.
She also cited common warning signs such as fatigue, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, and difficulty concentrating as indicators that warrant medical attention.
Among blood-related conditions, anemia remains one of the most prevalent, often linked to iron deficiency, nutritional gaps, or chronic illness.
For bone health, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis were identified as leading concerns, particularly among adults aged 40 and above, with women considered at higher risk.
This was reinforced by women’s health advocate and Biofemme operations manager Leia Anchetta, who highlighted the increasing vulnerability of women to bone and blood-related conditions as they age.
She noted that bone density naturally decreases over time, making bones more fragile and prone to fractures.
Support supplements such as Calciumade, which contains calcium and Vitamin D, and Hemarate FA with Folic Acid, were also cited as supportive options for bone strengthening and anemia management. These products are offered under Biofemme, a subsidiary of Unilab and are available in Mercury Drug stores nationwide.
