Sen. Christopher Go attended the opening of a Malasakit Center at the Antipolo City Hospital on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. With him were Antipolo Mayor Andrea Ynares (left) and Rizal Gov. Rebecca Ynares (right). (Photo from Go’s office)
MANILA, Philippines — With all Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals now assured of getting their own Malasakit Center with the passage of Republic Act No. 11463, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday, Dec. 16, joined in another successful launch of one of these one-stop-shop medical assistance centers, this time at the Antipolo City Hospital.
This latest center is the 55th nationwide and the 26th to open in Luzon. Before this was the center at the Margarito Duavit Memorial Hospital in Binangonan, Rizal.
“Dito po sa bagong Malasakit Center sa Antipolo, nasa iisang bahay na lamang ang apat na ahensiya ng gobyerno na handang magbigay ng tulong sa mga pasyente,” Go said in his speech at the launching, which was attended by Rizal Gov. Rebecca Ynares and Antipolo Mayor Andrea Ynares.
[Here in this new Malasakit Center in Antipolo, four government agencies are housed ready to give assistance to patients,” Go said.
Besides the DOH, the other agencies represented in each center are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Malasakit Centers are hubs inside government hospitals that expedite the provision of medical and financial assistance from concerned government agencies and offices to Filipino patients. They were conceptualized and initiated by Go to provide quick access to government medical services for all Filipinos.
“Noon, kailangan pa ng mga taga-Antipolo na pumila sa iba’t ibang opisina ng gobyerno para lamang sa financial assistance. Ubos na ang panahon ninyo, ubos pa ang pamasahe ninyo. Ngayon, dahil may Malasakit Center dito sa Antipolo City Hospital, magtutulungan [ang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno] para i-cover ang hospital expenses ninyo,” Go said.
[Before, Antipolo residents needed to line up at various government offices just to get financial assistance. You waste not only your time but also your fare money. Now, because there’s already a Malasakit Center here at the Antipolo city Hospital, the concerned government agencies will help cover your hospital expenses.]
“Zero balance po ang target ng Malasakit Center,” he added.
[The Malasakit Center aims to achieve zero balance.]
Go said that senior citizens and persons with disabilities would be prioritized in the centers through an express lane.
The office covers patient services and expenses for such things as laboratories, medicines, surgeries or operations — with the exemption of professional fees and private room accommodation.
The process of seeking assistance has also been simplified through the Malasakit Unified Form, which means there is only one form to fill up for Filipinos requesting medical assistance.
“Tuloy-tuloy po ito sa lahat ng mga DOH-run hospitals dahil napirmahan na ni Pangulo ang Malasakit Center Act of 2019. Ayon po sa batas, 73 na DOH-run hospitals ay lalagyan ng Malasakit Center,” Go shared.
[This will all continue in DOH-run hospitals because the President has signed the Malasakit Center Act of 2019. Under the law, 73 DOH-run hospitals will have a Malasakit Center.]
Sen. Christopher Go talks at a young patient at the launching of a Malasakit Center at the Antipolo City Hospital on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. With him were Antipolo Mayor Andrea Ynares (left) and Rizal Gov. Rebecca Ynares (right). (Photo from Go’s office)
LGUs may also set up own centers
According to Go, the law also allows local government units to establish Malasakit Centers provided that they meet the standards and criteria to ensure sustainability and consistency in the services provided by the centers.
“We have set criteria para sundin nila para hindi po bungi-bungi ang mga Malasakit Center,” he said.
[We have set criteria for them to follow so that there would be no gaps in services of the Malasakit Centers.]
During the Antipolo launching, Go was approached by two patients — Alberto Correa and Madeline Elise Lorie Estanislao — seeking his assistance.
Correa needed artificial legs and seven-year-old Estanislao was suffering from atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis.
The senator committed to assist them and help shoulder expenses for the prosthetics of Correa and the treatment of Estanislao at the Philippine Heart Center.
In an ambush interview, Go emphasized that the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte would be complemented by the Malasakit Center Law.
“They will complement each other,” he said. “Sa UHC, miyembro ang lahat ng mga Pilipino nito. May specific package po ito na sasagutin. ‘Yung hindi po kayang bayaran ng UHC sa inyong pagpapagamot, diyan papasok ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na nasa Malasakit Centers.”
[All Filipinos are part of the UHC. This will address a specific package. What the UHC can’t pay for will be taken care of by the government agencies in Malasakit Centers.]
The senator discussed with top officials of Rizal the possible opening of another Malasakit Center in the province, this time in San Mateo town.
Additional Malasakit Centers will also be launched in Pasay and San Juan in Metro Manila within the week.
Earthquake relief
Meanwhile, asked on updates regarding the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Mindanao last Dec. 15, Go said that he had already sent aid to the survivors.
“Nandoon ako kahapon nung lindol. Sobrang lakas talaga. It is beyond our control. Ngayon po magtulungan na lang tayo. Maging vigilant tayo kapag ganitong may sakuna,” he said.
[I was there yesterday where the quake struck. It was really strong. It is beyond our control. Now we can just help each other. Let’s all be vigilant in times of disaster.]
He added that his office had provided aid for survivors in the form of tents, food packs and other relief assistance. He also offered to help children cope with the trauma.
“Meron din tayong konting tulong. Nagpadala tayo ng tents sa Padada, sa Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. ‘Yung mga bata naman na traumatized, dadalhin ko sa Davao [City], ipapasyal ko. Papanoorin ko ng sine,” he said.
[We have provided some aid. We sent tents to Padada and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur. The children who have been traumatized, I will bring them to Davao City to show then around. Let them watch movies.]
Go added that the President was closely monitoring the situation and had ordered government agencies to mobilize frontline disaster response and humanitarian assistance for all the survivors.
Aside from health, Go also advocates for the enhancement of disaster preparedness measures and policies. In
July, Go filed Senate Bill No. 205, which seeks to establish an “empowered, highly-specialized, and responsive Department of Disaster Resilience with clear unity of command.”
In a previous interview, Go reiterated the need for such a department to ensure quick response and wholistic approach in conducting rescue operations in times of calamities, such as the four strong earthquakes that hit Mindanao in just two months.
“I am pushing for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience so that there is a sole agency that will respond to the needs of the victims,” he said. “This will give a faster and effective response if the process will be streamlined and the government has a holistic approach.”
/atm