As the pandemic continues to spark need for accessible and affordable health care, Bong Go urges Filipinos to utilize medical assistance programs conveniently available in Malasakit Centers

Due to the growing number of Filipinos needing medical attention as a result of the pandemic, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go continued to urge, particularly the poor and vulnerable citizens in urgent need of medical care, to maximize the medical and financial assistance programs from the government through the Malasakit Centers found in various public hospitals throughout the country.

In an interview, Go assured that all members of a family may seek assistance from these centers even if one of them has already availed of their services.

"Maaari pong lumapit sa Malasakit Center ang iba pang miyembro ng pamilya kahit na nakahingi na po ng tulong ang isang myembro nito," explained Go.

"Ito lang po ang tandaan niyo: basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Wala ng tanong diyan, basta, unang-una, poor and indigent patients... nasa mga public hospital po 'yang Malasakit Center," he added.

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 Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and PhilHealth.

"Lapitan niyo lang po, nandiyan po ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno. Batas na po ito ngayon na pinirmahan ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, isinulong namin noong nakaraang 2019," he said, adding that there are now 102 Malasakit Centers all over the country, with the recent one launched at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City, Pampanga on Thursday, March 4.

On December 3, 2019, Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the "Malasakit Centers Act of 2019", which directs the establishment of a Malasakit Center in every DOH-run hospital throughout the country as well as the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.

Other public hospitals may also establish their own centers, provided that they meet the criteria to guarantee sustainability of their operations.

Through a unified form available at the Malasakit Center, patients or their representatives can conveniently avail of medical assistance from the four concerned government agencies---all found under one roof.

"Ulitin ko, mayroon nafi-fill up na form po sa Malasakit Center at mayroong social worker na mag assist sa pasyente at sa billing. Una, bawat agency involved ay may tulong mula sa kanilang assistance program at kung may balanse po ay diyan po tutulong 'yung Office of the President," he explained.

"Hindi niyo na kailangan umikot at pumila pa sa iba't ibang opisina para makakuha ng tulong pampagamot. Nasa iisang kwarto na po ang mga ahensyang tutulong sa inyo sa loob mismo ng ospital," he added.

The primary aim of the Malasakit Centers program is to reduce the patients' hospital bills to the lowest possible amount by covering various services and expenses.

"Ginawa natin ito dahil hindi dapat pahirapan pa lalo 'yung mga kababayan nating hirap na hirap na. Dapat mabilis ang aksyon at pagbigay ng serbisyo sa tao," he emphasized further.

According to the Senator, these Malasakit Centers have already benefited roughly more than two million Filipinos nationwide who have applied for medical assistance for their hospital bills and other health-related needs based on recent reports.

"Ulitin ko, basta Pilipino ka, indigent ka, poor patient ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Inyo po 'yan, sa Pilipino po 'yan, so lapitan niyo lang po," he stressed.