In the rural province of Bohol, the healthcare affordability crisis is reaching a breaking point. With an average annual family income of just $1,770, families are struggling to cover even their basic needs. Despite the promise of nationalized healthcare, many impoverished patients cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs for essential medications and life-saving surgeries.

 

For instance, cataract surgery costs $1,000, while critical adult surgeries—such as cholecystectomies, hysterectomies, and hernia repairs—range from $1,500 to $2,000. Pediatric surgeries, such as corrections for imperforate anus or undescended testicles, easily exceed $2,000. These staggering costs push healthcare beyond the reach of many, resulting in tragic, preventable deaths and disability from conditions that are treatable. 

 

In April 2026, our medical mission will harness the compassion of volunteer doctors and nurses, alongside our robust network of local partners, to drastically reduce the cost of medications and surgical procedures. This allows us to provide essential healthcare services entirely free of charge to indigent patients in need.

 

For example, we can facilitate major elective surgeries for just $390 and cataract surgeries for only $110. Our ambitious goal is to perform 50 major surgical procedures, 150 cataract surgeries, and reach 3,350 patients through our mobile clinics and acute care hospital.

 

But with your generosity, we can achieve even more! We aim to expand our efforts by including an additional 20 major surgeries, 50 more cataract surgeries, and serving 500 additional patients.