Senator Bong Go, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, applauded a recent Department of Health report on seven million Filipinos helped by the Malasakit Centers program, emphasizing the program’s development from a small initiative to a fully-fledged government service benefiting millions of Filipinos.
“Patunay po ito na malayo na ang narating ng Malasakit Centers program mula sa isang maliit na inisyatibo,” Go said.
“Bilang isang lingkod-bayan, wala nang higit na kasiya-siya para sa akin kaysa malaman na ang ating mga inisyatibo ay talagang nakakatulong sa ating mamamayang Pilipino,” the legislator added.
A recent report from the DOH indicates that over seven million Filipinos have benefited from its Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients Program which are made conveniently available inside these Malasakit Centers scattered around the country since the first such center was opened in February 2018.
“Ayon sa DOH, gumagawa rin sila ng paraan upang mas palawigin ang mga serbisyo na inaalok sa Malasakit Centers.”
“Ayon sa DOH, gumagawa rin sila ng paraan upang mas palawigin ang mga serbisyo na inaalok sa Malasakit Centers,” the lawmaker shared.
“Binanggit din nito na pinagbubuti ng PhilHealth ang mga financial plans nito upang mas makatulong sa mga pasyente na mabayaran ang kanilang hospital bills,” added the senator.
To improve further the country’s healthcare system towards realization of universal healthcare access, Go mentioned that he is also pushing for Senate Bill No. 189 which seeks to provide free annual medical check-up for all Filipinos, and SBN 190 which shall mandate the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to fully cover all costs of dialysis treatments, sessions and procedures done in health facilities accredited by PhilHealth.
“Malaking bagay po ito sa mga pasyente para hindi na mababawasan ang kanilang budget para sa kanilang pagkain at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan,” he said.
Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries of the Malasakit Centers program have expressed their gratitude to the senator, including Gloria Villoronte who was admitted in the Tondo Medical Center due to her thyroid problem.
Go also personally met another beneficiary Rosemarie Sanoria, during his visit to Mandaue City in Cebu to provide assistance to fire victims there.
“Sa kasamaang palad ay biktima rin si Rosemarie ng sunog, ngunit nagpasalamat siya sa akin dahil kung wala raw Malasakit Center ay magiging baldado na siya,” he shared.
“Kuwento niya noong 2019, nagkaroon siya ng spine curvator disorder dahil nadapa at bumagsak siya… May nakapagsabi na lumapit siya sa Malasakit Center para matulungan siya sa gastusin sa ospital. Wala siyang binayaran sa mga laboratories at nagpa-rehab pa siya ng tatlong buwan sa Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center sa Cebu City kung saan binuksan natin ang pinakaunang Malasakit Center sa bansa noong Pebrero 2018,” Go added.
Meanwhile, Esnihaya Ampao from Lanao del Norte was not the only one assisted by the Malasakit Centers program when she gave birth to her child. Her aunt and uncle also received assistance from the program when they were hospitalized due to illness.
Another beneficiary, Clupix Cultura, a five-year-old thyroid patient, had his medicines, diagnostic exams, and other hospital bills covered by the Malasakit Center as well.
Go then expressed optimism that the initiative will continue to be of assistance to a greater number of Filipinos in the years to come.
“Tiwala akong patuloy ang Malasakit Centers na magiging malaking tulong sa mga kababayan natin, lalo na sa mga walang matakbuhan at maaasahan kundi ang gobyerno,” he stressed.
“Ibinabalik lang ng gobyerno ang pera at serbisyo na dapat matanggap ng tao sa pamamagitan ng mabilis at maaasahang serbisyo na may malasakit.”
“Sinimulan namin ito dahil ayaw naming pinapahirapan sila. Ibinabalik lang ng gobyerno ang pera at serbisyo na dapat matanggap ng tao sa pamamagitan ng mabilis at maaasahang serbisyo na may malasakit,” Go added.
To end, Go urged those in need not to hesitate in seeking assistance from any of the 153 one-stop shops across the country because these were designed just for them.
“Kaya naman patuloy ko pong hinihikayat ang ating mga kababayang nangangailangan na i-prioritize ang kanilang kalusugan at huwag mag-atubiling lumapit sa mga Malasakit Centers kung kailangan nila ang serbisyo nito,” he said.
“Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka sa mga serbisyo ng Malasakit Center. Lapitan nyo lang po ang Malasakit Center diyan po sa inyong lugar at tutulungan po kayo nito na ibaba sa pinakamaliit na posibleng halaga ang inyong hospital billing,” Go added.
Aside from the Malasakit Centers, Go maintained that he will continue to support the establishment of Super Health Centers in strategic locations where basic health services are not easily accessible, particularly in rural areas.
Go explained that the national government has allocated appropriate funds to be able to construct 307 Super Health Centers across the country in 2022.
He stressed that he successfully pushed for additional funds in the 2023 health budget to ensure additional Super Health Centers are continuously constructed.
The Super Health Center is an improved version of the rural health unit. It offers health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
“Ang aking adbokasiya po ay health. Karagdagang Super Health Center, Malasakit Center, kagamitan sa mga ospital, karagdagang specialty center na priority rin po yan ni Pangulong (Ferdinand) Marcos (Jr.) ngayon. ‘Yan po ang aking advocacy, palakasin ang ating health care system,” Go concluded.
