Concern for poor patients
UNKNOWN to many, more than two million poor Filipinos have already benefited from the government’s “Malasakit Center” (MCs) program, said Senator Lawrence “Bong” T. Go.
A brainchild of Senator Go, a close associate of President Rodrigo Duterte, MCs are one-stop shops in government hospitals mandated to meet the financial and medical needs of poor Filipinos.
At present, there are 102 “Malasakit Centers” in various parts of the country.
Under the program, any Filipino can avail of financial and medical assistance from four government agencies, which are housed in one building.
These are the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and PhilHealth.
“Hindi niyo na kailangang umikot at pumila pa sa ibat-ibang opisina para makakuha ng tulong. Nasa iisang kwarto na po ang mga ahensiyang tutulong sa inyo sa loob mismo ng ospital,” said Go.
In December 2019, Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 1463, which called for the setting up of an MC in all Department of Health-run hospitals as well as the Philippine General Hospital.
Senator Go assured the public that “basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Wala ng tanong diyan, basta, unang-una, poor and indigent patient ka.”
The neophyte lawmaker also emphasized that all members of a family may seek assistance from the center even if one of them has already availed of the program.
By initiating the multi-pronged program, the administration is actually bringing the government closer to the people, particularly the unfortunate members of Philippine society.
