Senator Bong Go reminded Filipinos to take advantage of the streamlined medical assistance offered in the 154 Malasakit Centers scattered throughout the country so that they can prioritize their health and well-being without being burdened by the costs.
In a recent interview, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health described the laborious process that Filipinos had to go through just to request medical assistance from the government before Malasakit Centers were established.
“Noong unang panahon po, wala pang Malasakit Center ang mga kababayan natin. Kung meron silang kailangang tulong sa kanilang pagpapaospital o billing, lalapit po ‘yan sa iba’t ibang opisina,” Go recalled.
“(Halimbawa), Lunes pupunta po ‘yan sa mga city hall, provincial hall o sa mga opisina po ng ating governor or mayor. Martes po, pupunta ‘yan sa PCSO, pipila, kahit madaling-araw. Miyerkules po, pipila ‘yan sa DOH. Huwebes po, pipila ‘yan sa DSWD. Biyernes po, ipo-proseso naman Philhealth,” the legislator narrated.
“Ubos po ang panahon nila, ubos po ‘yung pamasahe sa kakapila at paghingi ng tulong. Kaya doon ko po naisipan po ito noong 2018 na ilagay po sa isang kwarto (ang mga ahensyang ito),” the lawmaker continued.
The senator said these struggles prompted him to initiate the said program and later principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, which institutionalized Malasakit Centers through a law signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.
Under RA 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, all hospitals run by the DOH nationwide and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila are mandated to establish their own Malasakit Center.
Hospitals run by local government units and other public hospitals may also establish their own provided they meet a standard set of criteria to guarantee the sustainability of the center’s operations.
“Ngayon po ay batas na ito. Noong naging senador ako noong 2019, isinulong ko po ito sa tulong ng mga kasamahan ko sa Kongreso at Senado, pinirmahan ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Institutionalized na po ang Malasakit Center para po ito sa Pilipino, para po ito sa poor and indigent patients, handang tumulong po sa ating mga kababayan,” he shared.
There are currently 154 Malasakit Centers across the country, the most recent of which was launched on January 18 at the Camiguin General Hospital in Mambajao. Go was present during the event.
“Kung ano ang mabilis na serbisyo, iyon ipaglalaban ko.”
“Ako naman po, kung ano ang mabilis na serbisyo, iyon ipaglalaban ko. Sabi ko nga, bakit natin papahirapan ang Pilipino, pera naman nila ‘yan na dapat pong ibalik sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mabilis at maayos na serbisyo,” he stressed.
In addition, Go mentioned that the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital and Diagnostic Center in San Fernando City, Pampanga recently launched a Malasakit Center.
“Noong Nobyembre, nagbukas tayo ng 153rd (Malasakit Center) para po sa OFW Hospital. Ito po ‘yung pangarap natin noon na magkaroon ng sariling hospital para sa mga OFW,” he said.
“Ise-segue ko na lang po, pangarap natin na magkaroon ng departamento noon, natupad na po ito, ‘yung Department of OFW o Department of Migrant Workers. Tapos nagkaroon din po sila ng sariling hospital dyan po sa Pampanga. Ngayon po, nilagyan po natin ng Malasakit Center doon po mismo sa OFW Hospital para po ‘yan sa mga kababayan nating OFW,” Go added.
According to the DOH, the Malasakit Centers program has assisted over seven million patients and provided a total of P50.8 billion in assistance since its inception in 2018. This specific assistance cited by DOH was provided through its Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients program, which can be accessed in these centers.
The DOH also said that efforts are being made to broaden the scope of assistance to include, among other things, outpatient drug benefits. It also stated that PhilHealth, the country’s state-run health insurer, is strengthening its financing strategies to prevent patients from having to pay out-of-pocket costs.
“Sa Tawi-Tawi and even sa Jolo, sa pinakababa… at mula Aparri pati Batanes (sa hilaga ng bansa)… so mula Batanes hanggang Tawi-tawi meron pong Malasakit Center. Sa gilid naman po ng mapa natin, tatlong Malasakit Center po meron sa Palawan,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Girlie Veloso, Director IV of DOH handling the Malasakit Center Program, stressed in the interview that all Filipinos may seek assistance from Malasakit Centers.
“Walang pinipiling tutulungan ang Malasakit Centers. Priority lang natin ang indigent patients or the financially incapacitated,” Veloso said.
“Charity po ang accommodation ng patients natin kapag lumapit sa Malasakit Center. Pero meron tayong social workers inside the Malasakit Center. Ito ‘yung mag-assess sa mga pasyente kung ano at paano bibigyan ng assistance ang indigents o financially incapacitated patients,” she added.
Veloso said that the program aims that there will be no need for patients to leave hospitals to complete their requirements, as social workers will be on hand to determine their eligibility for the services.
“Layunin ng Malasakit Center na ma-zero ang bill mo.”
“Ang importante lang sa isang pasyente na naghihingi ng assistance, lumapit lang talaga sa ospital na may Malasakit Center. After that, with regards to the requirements, they are just basic requirements. As soon as masubmit n’yo na ang requirements, then you can avail the assistance. Layunin ng Malasakit Center na ma-zero ang bill mo,” she added.
Meanwhile, Go also backed the establishment of specialty medical centers across the country and funding medical assistance for indigent patients needing specialized medical services, stressing that many patients cannot afford these expensive medical treatments and operations.
“Hopefully po, na-irelay ko rin po ito kay Executive Secretary (Lucas) Bersamin since priority rin po ng ating Marcos Administration, ni President (Ferdinand) Marcos (Jr), ‘yung mga specialty centers,” he said.
“Minsan po, ‘pag napakalaki po ng babayaran sa pagpapaopera, halimbawa, itong mga heart procedures, napakalaki po ng halagang kakailanganin, malaking tulong rin po kung saka-sakaling maglalaan rin po ng pondo ang ating Office of the President … para dito sa mga specialty hospitals dahil malaki po ang kakailanganin sakaling ma-operahan po ‘yung pasyente,” Go added.
During the previous administration, the Office of the President extended additional funds for existing specialty centers specifically for medical assistance to indigents needing such specialized services and operations.
“Ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa mga kababayan natin. Ingat po tayo. ‘Wag pa rin po magpakumpiyansa. Nandidiyan pa po si COVID, delikado pa po ang panahon. Importante po ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo,” he concluded.
