Bongg Go

Bong Go highlights 5th year of Malasakit Centers program with more than 7M beneficiaries helped so far

January 19, 2023 People's Journal 1557 views
Malasakit
154th Malasakit Center launched in Mambajao

THE Malasakit Centers program, a brainchild of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, has reached another milestone in its fifth year since its inception. As part of his continued efforts to ensure a more convenient way to access various forms of medical assistance from the government, Go personally joined the successful launch of the 154th Malasakit center located in Camiguin General Hospital (CGH) in Mambajao, Camiguin on Wednesday, January 18.

The Malasakit Center in CGH, which is a DOH-run hospital, is the first in the province, 8th in Northern Mindanao region, and the 38th in the entire Mindanao.

“Ika-154 na Malasakit Center itong sa Camiguin, ito ang latest na binuksan. 153rd yung sa (para sa) mga OFW, sa OFW Hospital sa Pampanga. Congratulations sa Camiguin province at sa DOH.

Para talaga ito sa poor and indigent patients. Handang tumulong ito sa ating mga kababayang nangangailangan ng tulong pangmedikal,” shared Go in an ambush interview.

In his speech, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, recalled how he came up with the idea to start the Malasakit Centers program after he witnessed the struggles of Filipinos in getting sufficient and affordable medical care.

“Noong wala pa ang Malasakit Center, kinakailangan pang lumapit ng mga pasyente sa iba’t ibang opisina ng gobyerno. Pumipila sila nang napakahaba (at) nagmamakaawa na tulungan sila. Kaya naisip ko, bakit pa natin kailangan pahirapan ang ating mga kababayan? Bakit kailangan pa nila magmakaawa, eh pera naman nila ‘yan?” underscored Go.

“Ibalik dapat ang pera sa mga mahihirap sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang serbisyong nararapat,” he also stressed.

Under Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go in the Senate, all hospitals that are administered and managed by the Department of Health, plus the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City are mandated to have their own Malasakit Center that shall provide convenient access to medical programs offered by concerned agencies, such as the DSWD, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Ang Malasakit Center sa ngayon ay nasa (mga) government hospital pa lamang. Nasa batas (ito) na ilalagay sya sa DOH-run hospital at yung mga provincial (at) city government-run hospital ay pwedeng lagyan basta pasado siya sa criteria na nasa batas,” Go explained further.

The one-stop shop aims to reduce to the lowest amount possible the hospital bill of those who seek its assistance. It covers patient services and expenses, such as laboratories, medicines, surgeries and operations.

“Yan ang konsepto ng Malasakit Center. Para talaga ito sa mga poor at indigent patients. Okay lang kahit ubusin niyo ang pondo ng gobyerno (para dito) basta huwag niyo lang pababayaan ang mga mahihirap na pasyente,” he shared.

Through Go’s initiative, the first Malasakit Center was launched in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City in February 2018. Since then, the program has already helped seven million Filipinos nationwide, as recently reported by the Department of Health.

“As a public servant, nothing feels more fulfilling than knowing that our initiatives really do help our Filipino people. That is why I am particularly happy with the recent DOH report which indicates that over seven million Filipinos have benefited from the Malasakit Centers scattered nationwide—from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi,” Go earlier said.

According to the health department, since its establishment in 2018, the Malasakit Centers have made it more accessible for poor and indigent Filipinos to avail of medical assistance from the government. Specifically, the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) Program of DOH, which can also be availed in any of the Malasakit Centers, has helped 7,481,333 patients with a total budget of PhP50.8 billion. In 2022 alone, more than 1.4 million patient beneficiaries received PhP14.6 billion in government assistance through the Malasakit Centers program.

DOH also said that efforts are being made to broaden the scope of assistance available in Malasakit Centers. It added that PhilHealth is strengthening its financing strategies to prevent patients from having to pay out-of-pocket costs.

To improve further the 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-ups 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.

“Kasunod nito, siniguro natin na ang dagdag subsidiya sa budget ng PhilHealth ay magagamit para sa free medical check-up at free dialysis sa 2023. Malaking bagay po ito sa mga pasyente para hindi na mababawasan ang kanilang budget para sa kanilang pagkain at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan,” Go also shared.

Continuing his message, Go extended his gratitude to all of the medical frontliners for their service.

“At sa mga frontliners dito na nagsakripisyo para sa ating mga kababayan, maraming salamat sa inyong serbisyo,” he said.

“Hindi mababayaran ang sakripisyo ninyo sa panahong ito. Kaunting tiis lang. Alam namin na hirap kayo pero kayo ang inaasahan ng bansa. Andirito lang po ako sa abot ng aking makakaya para patuloy na ipaglaban ang inyong kapakanan. Kaya huwag kayong mag-atubiling lumapit sa akin,” he reassured.

“Tulungan po natin ang mga pasyente na umuwi silang nakangiti dahil inasikaso sila ng inyong ospital, ‘yun lang po ang pakiusap ko sa ating mga health workers,” he continued.

After the launch, Go and his team distributed meals, food packs, vitamins, and masks to a total of 315 healthcare workers and 231 patients. Meanwhile, the patients and 90 rank-and-file hospital employees received financial assistance from the DSWD.

More so, the senator likewise gave bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select individuals.

Go, in coordination with DOH, also helped secure an additional PhP10 million budget allocation to further enhance services in the said hospital in Camiguin.

During the visit, Go’s team likewise assisted indigents, fisherfolk and farmers whose livelihoods were adversely affected by a low-pressure area after the MC launch.

Afterward, Senator Go then proceeded to witness the groundbreaking of Mambajao Super Health Center. Go also took his time to inspect several infrastructure projects he supported in Catarman town.

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