Antipolo City resident finds relief through Malasakit Center initiative
“BUTI na lang talaga, may Malasakit.”
For Melody Comanda, a 43-year-old resident of Antipolo City, life has been a series of uphill battles since her diagnosis with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Stage 5 in 2007. For 17 years, her routine has revolved around rigorous dialysis treatments—an expensive and taxing process that has tested her resilience, both physically and emotionally.
Yet, as she sits in a small, bright hospital room with the hum of dialysis machines beside her, she speaks with profound gratitude about a program that has eased her burden significantly: the Malasakit Center initiative.
“Buti na lang talaga. Nung dati, wala pang Malasakit (Center). Talagang shoulder namin lahat. ‘Yun ‘yung usap-usapan namin ng mga dialysis patient na, buti may ganito na.” Comanda reflects on the struggles she faced before the program was established, her voice tinged with relief.
Malasakit Centers, which operate as one-stop shops in hospitals, aim to support impoverished patients by reducing their hospital bills to the minimum. These centers consolidate assistance from government agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The initiative was institutionalized through Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, spearheaded by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go as the principal author and sponsor. Now, with 166 centers operational across the country, the DOH has reported that over 15 million Filipinos have already benefited from the program.
For Comanda, the initiative was transformative. “Maganda po ‘yung katangian ni Senator Go na pagiging matulungin. Siyempre, sa amin, sir, na nangangailangan, pabor sa amin ‘yung matulungin na senador. Kasi kulang kami sa financial. ‘Yung ginagawa n’yang pagtulong, lalo na sa may sakit, tapos marami pang tao na nangangailangan.”
The expenses for her treatment, which once loomed over her family’s finances like an insurmountable shadow, are now significantly less daunting. “Malaking kabawasan na ‘yun sa isipin ng mga taong problemado.”
The financial and emotional toll was overwhelming. But the Malasakit Centers have provided more than financial support—they’ve given her peace of mind.
“Nung nagkaroon na ng Malasakit Center, hindi na akong gaanong nag-iisip kung saan pa kukuha ng panggamot. ‘Yun talaga. Habang tumatagal ako na nagda-dialysis, mas nagiging magaan siya. Kasi nga nagkakaroon ng ganon, ‘yung Malasakit.”
Comanda expresses her gratitude to Senator Bong Go, whom she sees as a vital force in uplifting the healthcare system through his health reforms crusade.
Her story is just one among millions, but it illustrates the profound impact of the Malasakit Centers initiative. What was once an uncertain future for Comanda now holds the promise of more time with her family and a lighter load to bear.
