SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Law, made this call underscoring a Department of Health (DOH) Memorandum that ordered the continuous implementation of the Malasakit Program and Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients Program.
“Wala dapat matanggihan sa mga ospital. Huwag na pahirapan ang mga pasyenteng naghihirap na. Magmalasakit tayo sa may sakit.”
The DOH Memorandum 2023-0235 directed concerned health facilities to ensure that the operations of Malasakit Centers are uninterrupted and that all patients are accorded with available services that they need.
Go likewise reiterated the DOH Public Advisory, dated 17 December 2024, stating the Health Department’s commitment to fund medical assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients in line with the Malasakit Centers Law.
“Patuloy ang pagpopondo at suporta ng Department of Health para sa mga indigent at financially incapacitated na pasyente. Alinsunod sa Republic Act No. 11463 o ang Malasakit Centers Act, maaaring dumulog ang nangangilangan ng medical assistance sa mga registered social worker o medical social services ng ospital na meron nito,” the Advisory reads.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where Filipinos can avail of financial and medical assistance from four agencies of the government, namely the DOH, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
“Karapatan ng bawat Pilipino ang kalusugan. Inuudyok ko ang mga ospital at iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno na magtulungan upang mapabuti pa ang serbisyong pangkalusugan sa bansa,” Go added.
Go further urged the public to report any concerns or issues regarding the implementation of the Malasakit Centers Law, emphasizing the Senate’s oversight functions in ensuring legislations are properly implemented to benefit the people in accordance with the law.
“Kung may reklamo kayo o may napansin kayong pagkukulang sa pagpapatupad ng Malasakit Centers, ipagbigay-alam kaagad sa DOH upang agarang maaksyunan o iparating sa amin sa Senado para mabantayan natin,” he said.
Go emphasized that these reports are vital in ensuring proper government implementation, monitoring, and maintaining transparency and accountability in line with the Malasakit Centers Act.
During the last Senate hearing on health conducted on February 12 or a day after the official start of the election campaign season, Senator Go said that he would exercise the committee’s oversight functions and continue to monitor the implementation of the Malasakit Centers Act to ensure that no patient is left behind when it comes to availing help from the government.
“Sabi ko nga, kahit panahon ng kampanya ngayon, uunahin ko ang pagseserbisyo sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino. Uunahin ko ang mga kapakanan ng mga pasyente. Uunahin ko ang mahihirap nating kababayan,” Go said.
February 12, incidentally, marks the 7th anniversary of the Malasakit Centers program. It was first launched at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City on February 12, 2018.
There are currently 167 Malasakit Centers in the Philippines – 93 in Luzon, 30 in the Visayas, and 44 in Mindanao. More than 17 million Filipinos have been assisted by the program, according to the latest report from the Department of Health.
“Patuloy kong tutukan ang operasyon ng Malasakit Centers at sisiguraduhin kong mas lalo pang mapapabuti ang serbisyo nito para sa ating mga kababayan,” Go, who is seeking reelection, reaffirmed.
