MANILA, Philippines — The 158th Malasakit Center in the country was launched at the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital in Guagua, Pampanga yesterday, bringing much-needed medical assistance and support to the local community.
Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa attended the launch.
It is the 89th Malasakit Center in Luzon and 15th in Central Luzon.
Sen. Bong Go, principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Center Act, emphasized the critical role of Malasakit Centers in delivering essential medical assistance for healthcare services to Filipinos.
The concept of Malasakit Centers stemmed from Go’s personal experiences during his visits to hospitals and medical institutions across the country.
Witnessing the struggles of patients, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds in covering their medical expenses, Go recognized the urgent need for a streamlined system of providing medical assistance.
Since the inauguration of the first Malasakit Center in Cebu City in 2018, the number of centers has grown to 158 nationwide, and has benefited more seven million people, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
It serves as a one-stop shop for medical assistance, housing various government agencies such as the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.