IN an ambush interview on Wednesday, February 19, during his visit to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reaffirmed that Malasakit Centers across the country are mandated by law to assist all Filipinos in need of medical aid, emphasizing that “wala dapat tinatanggihan na pasyente ang Malasakit Center.”
Go, the principal author and sponsor of the Republic Act No. 11463, Malasakit Centers Act, reiterated to the public that the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) have dedicated programs made available in Malasakit Centers that act as one-stop shops for medical assistance in accordance with the Malasakit Centers Law.
The funding for each medical assistance program is included in the budgets of DOH and DSWD as indicated in General Appropriations Act or in the case of PCSO and PhilHealth, in accordance with their respective mandates and the Universal Healthcare Law.
“Dapat po ibalik natin sa taumbayan ang pera. Yan po ang Malasakit Center. Kaya po yan one-stop shop… batas na po yan. Tuluy-tuloy naman po ang tulong ng Malasakit Center. Dahil pera po yan ng taumbayan, pera yan ng Pilipino. Kaya ako ay patuloy na susuporta sa abot ng aking makakaya (para maimplementa ng maayos ang Malasakit Centers Law),” Go said in his speech during the event.
These partner agencies are housed within Malasakit Centers in key public hospitals to provide a streamlined process for indigent patients seeking aid for hospital bills, medicines, and other medical expenses.
Senator Go also referenced the Department of Health’s (DOH) Department Memorandum 2023-0235, issued by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, mandating Malasakit Centers to provide essential services to all patients.
“May memo po sila, mismo ang Department of Health, na wala pong matatanggihan na pasyente ang Malasakit Center, lalung-lalo na po yung mga indigents patients,” Go stressed.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go also reaffirmed his commitment to exercise its oversight functions in ensuring the continued operations of Malasakit Centers nationwide. Since its inception, more than 17.5 million Filipinos have already benefited from this one-stop shop for medical assistance as reported by DOH.
The senator also clarified that rumors suggesting that Malasakit Centers no longer have funds to help patients are false. He stressed that all four government agencies have programs and corresponding funding allocations for Medical Assistance, which ensures that Malasakit Centers remain operational and fully capable of providing medical aid.
“It’s not true na walang pondo ang Malasakit Center but the truth is ang Malasakit Center ay one-stop shop. Wala po siyang sariling pondo. Batas po siya kung saan andiyan po ang Philhealth, DSWD, andiyan din po ang PCSO, at aandyan po ang DOH, may mga pondo po sila katulad ng MAIFIP na pwedeng tumulong,” Go reiterated.
“Halimbawa, ang NKTI, pwede silang lumapit doon sa loob ng Malasakit Center. Meron pong social worker na tutulong at iga-guide sila to seek help from the four agencies… ang implementing agency po ng Malasakit Center ay ang Department of Health. Sila po ang dapat mag implement ng program na ito at karapatan po ito ng Pilipino,” Mr. Malasakit explained.
However, Go reminded concerned agencies to properly implement the Malasakit Centers Law by ensuring that their respective medical assistance programs are made accessible in each center with corresponding personnel who can guide patients in availing help.
Currently, there are 167 Malasakit Centers strategically placed in government hospitals across the country, aiming to provide swift and accessible medical aid to Filipinos in need.
“It’s not true na zero ang pondo ng Malasakit Center dahil andiyan po yung four agencies na may pondo at karapatan yan ng Pilipino. Pera po ng Pilipino yan at dapat pong ibalik sa Pilipino ang pera ng Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang tulong pampagamot,” Go ended.
