FriendlyCare Foundation, Inc., was founded in 1999 as a non-profit, non-stock private organization with the founding mission to provide affordable, accessible, quality reproductive and family health services to the low to middle socio- economic class. It was founded based on extensive research studies and statistics facilitated by its founding funder USAID to serve the unmet needs of the market lodged in between the expensive private health care services and crowded public health facilities. By and large, it has attracted the market from all walks of life, across all ages and demographics.
After six years, the organization transitioned to ensure its sustainability. The FriendlyCare Clinics became self-sufficient multi-specialty facilities offering laboratory, diagnostic, vaccination, drug testing and medical consultation services. It was not a walk in the park, as resource draining clinics had to be closed. Health care needs continued to grow as the economy developed and medical mobile vans were deployed to reach more companies and clients who also needed affordable healthcare. Reproductive Health and Family Planning endeavors such as missions were sustained via the clinics, donors and public partnerships. Affordably priced primary care and reproductive health services in the Clinics and reaching out to geographically isolated areas in the provinces, and urban, underserved locations had become the brand’s heart and soul and made FriendlyCare a one of a kind brand in healthcare.
Its clinics, mobile vans and operating systems and service protocols are compliant with and accredited by the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Inc. (PhilHealth), National External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Privacy Commission (NPC), Philippines Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC). FriendlyCare is also known as an institutional advocate in the delivery of health services in reproductive health focused on Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) and Family Planning (FP). The company’s work in FP over the years has been recognized by the Department of Health. For 23 years now FriendlyCare has been supporting the Philippine Family Planning Program by partnering with the LGUs in NCR, CALABARZON, Davao and other parts of Cebu, Region XI and Region VIII. As a Civil Society Organization, FriendlyCare is a member of the Department of Health - National Implementation Team tasked to support the Republic Act No. 10354 known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RPRH Law) as well as Executive Order No.12 sustaining “Zero Unmet Need for Modern Family Planning”.
In 2016, cognizant of the increased modern day need to balance work, family and societal challenges impacting the wellness and well-being of individual and corporate clients, the Foundation partnered with the Centre for Mindfulness Studies Toronto and expanded its capabilities into mental health and wellness through mindfulness-based programs like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and other customized programs for wellness, stress, depression and anxiety, offering these to educational institutions, workplaces and individuals. This was in support of the recently passed National Mental Health Law – Republic Act 11036 – a landmark law that aims to enhance the delivery of integrated mental health services and psychosocial interventions that are rights-based, destigmatizes mental health concerns and provides awareness and wider access to services.
FriendlyCare was affected by the 2020 pandemic and sadly, had to close its Cebu, Lagro and Shaw clinics. But its resilience and agility proved strong. Its Telemedicine platform began in December 2021 and a new clinic in Robinsons Novaliches opened last July 28, 2023, replacing the Lagro location. The Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024 confident that it is ready to serve and touch the lives of even more clients and beneficiaries as the country comes out of the pandemic through its Clinics, Reproductive Health and Family Planning missions, its accessible TeleMedicine platform and evidence-based Mindfulness Programs for mental health and flourishing.