7 million Pinoys helped by Malasakit Centers – DOH report

MANILA, Philippines — Over seven million Filipinos benefited from Malasakit Centers established by Sen. Bong Go, according to a report by the Department of Health (DOH).

Go, chair of the Senate committee on health, applauded the report as he noted the program’s development from a small initiative.

“This is a proof that Malasakit Centers have gone a long way from a small initiative to a fully fledged government service,” he said in Filipino.

“As a public servant, I’m happy to know that my small initiative was able to help millions of fellow Filipinos,” he added.

The DOH reported that over seven million Filipinos have benefited from the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients Program made conveniently available inside Malasakit Centers scattered around the country. The first Malasakit center opened in February 2018.

The department also made way to expand the services being offered by Malasakit Centers.

PhilHealth is improving its financial plans to further help patients pay their hospital bills through Malasakit Centers, Go noted.

To further improve the country’s health care system toward the realization of universal health care access, Go is pushing for Senate Bill 189, which seeks to provide free annual medical check-up for all Filipinos, and SBN 190, which mandates PhilHealth to cover all costs of dialysis treatments, sessions and procedures done in health facilities accredited by the agency.

Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries of the Malasakit Centers program thanked the senator.

Gloria Villoronte, who was admitted in the Tondo Medical Center due to her thyroid problem, was helped by Malasakit.

Go also personally met another beneficiary, Rosemarie Sanoria, during his visit to Mandaue City, also in Cebu, to provide assistance to fire victims.

Esnihaya Ampao from Lanao del Norte was not the only one assisted by the Malasakit Centers program when she gave birth to her child. Her aunt and uncle also received assistance from the program when they were hospitalized due to their illnesses.

Another beneficiary, Clupix Cultura, a five-year-old thyroid patient, had his medicines, diagnostic exams and other hospital bills covered by the Malasakit Center as well.

Go expressed optimism that the initiative would continue to assist many more Filipinos in the years to come.