19th Malasakit Center rises at Lung Center

MANILA, Philippines — The government has launched the country’s 19th Malasakit Center at the Lung Center of the Philippines as part of the Duterte administration’s program to provide improved access to quality health care, particularly for poor and disadvantaged patients.

A Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop housing all concerned government agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Pagcor, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and PhilHealth to make it easier and faster for poor and disadvantaged patients to avail themselves of medical and financial assistance from the government.

Leading the launch was Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Diño, with the heads of partner agencies namely Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista, Pagcor chairman Andrea Domingo and PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan.

Former special assistant to the president Christopher “Bong” Go, who was instrumental in the conceptualization of the Malasakit Center, was guest of honor at the event.

The latest Malasakit Center is the second in Metro Manila, after the one launched at the PGH in Manila on Sept. 12, 2018.

In his message, Go said patients will no longer be spending an entire week going to various offices of the government just to seek medical assistance.

“If the assistance of these agencies is not enough to cover the treatment cost, the Malasakit Center can help reduce it to the lowest possible amount,” he added. “President Duterte has allotted funds here at the Lung Center and other Malasakit Centers. This is all for you.”

Go, a candidate for senator in the 2019 elections, said there would even be an express lane at Malasakit Centers devoted to senior citizens and the disabled.

He was invited to the event since he helped conceptualize the idea of the Malasakit Center based on his two decades of experience serving then Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte, attending almost daily to people seeking medical assistance from the local government.