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SEN. Bong Go attended the opening of the country's 167th Malasakit Center at Tamparan District Hospital in Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, on Monday. The Malasakit Centers program aims to alleviate the burden on poor and indigent patients who often struggle to visit multiple offices to seek government health assistance.
The Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act (RA) 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Senator Go principally authored and sponsored.
The law mandates all Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital to establish Malasakit Centers, with the option for other public hospitals to do the same if they meet the operational standards set by the law and upon assessment of DOH.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go was invited to witness the opening ceremony with representatives from national agencies and local officials.
"The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop. Four government agencies with medical assistance programs are now in one room in the hospital to help you. You no longer need to travel far and line up at different offices to seek medical assistance from the government," said Go in Filipino.
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According to the DOH, the Malasakit Centers have collectively assisted over 15 million Filipinos since the program's inception in 2018.
"The Malasakit Centers are for all Filipinos, indigent patients with no other recourse but the government. Your money will be returned to you through honest service, and it should be fast and reliable," added Go.
The Malasakit Center at Tamparan District Hospital is the second in Lanao del Sur, following the one at Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City. This is part of 44 Malasakit Centers operational in Mindanao, aside from the 30 in the Visayas and 93 in Luzon.
As a guest, Go recognized the efforts of Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, Minister of Health Kalid Sinolinding, Mayor Muhammad Juhar Disomimba and other officials present for their support in ensuring that health care remains a priority in their community.
Go continues to push legislation that improves access to health care services, particularly for indigent and underserved communities.
Aside from Malasakit Centers, Go also advocated for establishing more super health centers nationwide, designed to decongest hospitals by offering primary health care, consultations and early detection services at the community level.
So far, over 600 super health centers have been funded through the collaborative efforts of Go as vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the DOH, local government units and fellow lawmakers — including eight in Lanao del Sur.
Go also principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which brings specialized medical care to all regions by establishing specialty centers in every DOH-run regional hospital.
On the same day, Go inspected the construction of Lanao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Marantao and aided impoverished residents in Marawi City.
"I will never waste the opportunity you have given me. I will work for the Filipino people. And that is what I can offer you, my hard work and my habit of service," Go concluded.
