Bill institutionalizing ‘Malasakit Centers’ filed in House

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu 6th District Rep. Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon has filed a bill institutionalizing “Malasakit Centers” in all accredited public hospitals in the country.

In a statement Wednesday, Ouano-Dizon said her House Bill No. 1140 seeks to allow indigent patients to simply present their medical bills and medical abstract in a Malasakit Center, where an interview will be conducted by an accredited social worker to assess his or her situation. The center will bring forth aid from PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Health and Presidential Social Fund.

If passed into law, HB1140 will support the expansion of the Malasakit Center mandate which, as of March 2019, has served more than 100,000 patients with medical financial assistance worth P300 million every month, according to the congresswoman.

Citing the 2019 Philippine Wellness Index, Ouano-Dizon said 40 percent of Filipinos are uncertain whether they can afford to pay their medical bills, while 37 percent had to use their savings and 25 percent had to seek help from relatives to pay for medical bills.