THE 158th Malasakit Center in the country will be launched at the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital in Guagua, Pampanga at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 9.

The Malasakit Center launch will be attended by Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, and Health Sec. Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, among other notable guests.

The Malasakit Center, which is the 89th of its kind in Luzon and the 15th in Region III, holds tremendous importance in providing convenient and efficient medical assistance to those in need.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, the main proponent of the program who principally authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, emphasized the critical role of the Malasakit Centers in delivering essential medical assistance for healthcare services to the Filipino population.

“Bilang chair po ng Committee on Health sa Senado, ‘yan po ang advocacy ko, health po… kaya patuloy na prayoridad ko itong mga Malasakit Center,” said Go.

He also highlighted the significance of the program in alleviating the financial burdens faced by Filipinos, stating, “Bakit natin papahirapan ang mga kapwa natin Pilipino? Pera naman po ninyo ‘yan, dapat po ibalik sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mabilis na serbisyo. ‘Yan po ang Malasakit Center.”

The concept of Malasakit Centers stemmed from Go’s personal experiences during his visits to hospitals and medical institutions across the country. Witnessing the struggles of patients, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, in covering their medical expenses, he recognized the urgent need for a streamlined system of providing medical assistance.

Since the inauguration of the first Malasakit Center in Cebu City in 2018, the number of centers has grown to 158 nationwide, benefitting over seven million individuals, according to the Department of Health.

Each Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop for medical assistance, housing various government agencies such as the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, officially known as Republic Act No. 11463, was signed into law by former president Rodrigo Duterte to institutionalize the program.

In Pampanga, other Malasakit Centers are located at Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital and Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital and Diagnostic Center, both in San Fernando City; and at Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City.

In addition to Malasakit Centers, Go has been advocating for the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide, particularly in remote communities. These centers aim to provide essential health services such as database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, diagnostic services (laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound), pharmacies, and ambulatory surgical units.

Other services available include eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, which enables remote diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.

“Full support po ako sa Malasakit Center, full support po ako sa inyong Super Health Center at iba pang inisyatibo na makakatulong sa ating health sector,” he said.

Go also sponsored in the Senate the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers, recognizing the critical need to establish said facilities in various regions to ensure that Filipinos have convenient access to the specialized medical services they require.

On May 31, the Senate ratified the Bicameral Conference Report on the Regional Specialty Centers Act, with Go serving as an author and the principal sponsor of the measure.

“Gusto ko rin pong ibahagi sa ating mga kababayan na para sa kanila po ang panukalang batas na ito,” said Go.

“Ito pong regional specialty centers ay isang paraan para mailapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po yung mga mahihirap,” he added.

Last January 26, Go was honored by the provincial government of Pampanga for advancing the province’s well-being and interests through its Resolution No. 7643-A.