Vice President Leni Robredo’s Bayanihan E-Konsulta program, the free health teleconsultation service her office launched amid the pandemic, ended its operations today as Robredo is set to step down from her post in June once the newly elected administration comes into power.
Robredo posted the photos of the last day of the initiative under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on social media, where she thanked those who volunteered for the program.
“Since we launched the program in April 2021, we have assisted more than 58,000 cases—both COVID and non-COVID patients. This was made possible by volunteers, including 947 doctors and 1,761 call/chat agents,” Robredo wrote.
“My wholehearted thanks to all who have been with us: our volunteer doctors, call/chat agents, EMS (emergency medical services) teams, and to my OVP family. And to all our fellowmen the Bayanihan E-Konsulta has helped, it is a huge honor to serve you all,” she added.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Robredo’s office launched the Bayanihan E-Konsulta program to decongest hospitals overflowing with patients as cases surged at that time. While the initiative prioritized COVID-19 patients, the service also entertained non-COVID cases.
The telemedicine service was one of several initiatives the OVP launched as part of its pandemic response. Aside from providing PPE to medical frontliners and launching swab cabs, the office sent a total of 10,142 COVID-19 care kits to patients that included medicines, vitamins, an oral dehydration solution, an oximeter, face masks, alcohol, disinfectant, and garbage bags.
The Office of the Vice President also offered free molnupiravir, a COVID-19 treatment pill, to patients as prescribed by the program’s volunteer doctors.
Robredo steps down from office as Vice President-elect, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte eyes her inauguration date of June 19, 11 days earlier than the date she is expected to take office. On Monday, Robredo congratulated Duterte on her win and said that her office is ready to start the transition process.
