SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) conducted 63 medical missions in 2009 all over the country, 14 of which were conducted in September.

Medical missions, aside from wellness centers, serve as the medium for SM Foundation to promote its health and medical advocacy. It is during a medical mission that diagnostic and laboratory procedures, consultations and even dental extractions are made.

Beneficiaries of these medical missions are carefully screened to include only those who cannot afford the medical services of a private hospital and those who do not have access to a medical and health institution. SM Foundation goes further by holding seminars during the medical missions to brief the beneficiaries on disease prevention and management.

Aside from the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government units, regional health centers and volunteer doctors, last year’s medical missions were conducted in collaboration with Ateneo de Manila University, Saint Pedro Poveda College, Balag Foundation, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Bankers Association of the Philippines, ABS-,CBN, Sta. Catalina College, Batch 1972 of the Immaculate Conception Academy and the Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko Foundation.

The medical missions were conducted in barangay Irisan, Baguio City (SM City Baguio community); Balete, Batangas (SM City Lipa community); and Bago-Bantay, Quezon City (SM City North Edsa community) in January. The following month, site of the medical mission was Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Tandang Sora, Quezon City and in the Marikina Home for the Aged conducted in collaboration with Saint Pedro Poveda College. In March, SMFI partnered with Ateneo de Manila University for a medical mission to benefit the residents of Barangay Pansol, Quezon City.

Medical missions conducted in SM malls that benefited communities within the malls’ vicinity included SM City San Lazaro, SM City Marilao, SM City Batangas, SM City Lipa, SM City Bacoor, SM City Marikina, SM City Pampanga, SM Supercenter Muntinlupa, SM City Iloilo, SM City Bacolod, SM City Fairview, SM City Baliwag, SM City Sucat, SM Cagayan de Oro, SM City Rosales and SM City Baguio.

Mobile clinics of the foundation are usually parked within the parking areas of the malls. Diagnostic and laboratory tests are conducted in the mobile clinics. Medical cases that cannot be handled by the medical mission are referred to government or private hospitals. Such cases are monitored by the foundation.

Balag Foundation, Lingkod ng Panginoon, Dominican College School of Nursing, Save Romblon Project, Sta. Catalina College and Naga Overseas Workers benefited from SM Foundation’s medicine donations. The medicines are gathered through the mall based Gamot Para Sa Kapwa project.