FILE PHOTO: Vice President Leni Robredo on January 6, 2020.INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday said that she wants to pursue and improve the government’s Malasakit Center program if ever she wins the presidential race in May.
“Kung siguro ‘yung question na, ‘ano ba ‘yung mga programa na gusto ko ituloy?’ ‘Yung number one na top of mind sa ‘kin, ‘yung Malasakit Centers,” she said during DZRH’s Bakit Ikaw?
(If I may be asked what projects do I want to continue? Number one on top of my mind is the Malasakit Centers.)
“’Yung Malasakit Centers napakaganda ng concept niya pero pwede pa natin siya i-improve. Kasi ngayon, parang ‘yung funding ng Malasakit Centers—ito kung tama ako—parang galing sa social fund ng pamahalaan. Ang paniniwala ko dapat GAA (General Appropriations Act) na ito. Dapat GAA na ito para institutionalized,” she added.
(The concept of Malasakit Centers is good but it could be improved. Because now, the funding of Malasakit Centers—if I’m not mistaken—is sourced from the government’s social fund. I believe that it should come from the GAA so it would be institutionalized.)
Robredo said she is eyeing to expand the coverage of the Malasakit Center program to also make it available for patients in private hospitals, particularly patients in the ward section and out-patients.
“Napakaganda na ng konsepto niya ngayon kasi pinapadali niya ‘yung paghingi ng tulong… Ito parang nilalagay niya sa isang umbrella ‘yung mga nangangailangan ng tulong as far as health is concerned,” she said.
(Its concept now is good because asking for assistance became easier. This puts in one umbrella the people who need help as far as health is concerned.)
“Pero ang mga proposals ko dito to improve ‘yung number one, sana hindi lang ‘yung covered ‘yung mga public hospitals. Sana pati ‘yung mga nasa private hospitals na nasa wards ma-cover din pati ‘yung mga nagpapa-check up lang na hindi naman ico-confine pero nangangailangan ng tulong sana i-cover,” explained Robredo.
(But, my proposal here is to improve, number one, I hope not only public hospitals are covered, but also private hospitals, those who are in the wards should be covered, as well as those people who went for a check-up, but not for confinement, who need help.)
The vice president likewise said that a higher budget would allow wider access and provide the public the healthcare they need and deserve.
‘Yung mas malaking budget mangangahulugan na ‘yung mga walang pambayad ng gamot ay mabibigyan natin. Kasi ‘pag kaunti ‘yung budget parating limited and nakakaawa talaga na ‘yung kahirapan, ‘yun ‘yung hindi nagbibigay ng access sa health services,” Robredo pointed out.
(A bigger budget means that those who do not have money to pay for medicines would be assisted. Because a smaller budget limits us and it is pitiful that poverty hinders us from accessing health services.)
“And ang pinaka-pangarap natin dito sa ating bansa na lahat, mahirap ka man o mayaman, pwede mong i-access ‘yung health services na dini-deserve mo, na kinakailangan mo,” she also said.
(Our goal for our country is that everyone, poor or rich, can access health services that you deserve and need.)
Malasakit Center is a one-stop venue where indigent patients can access medical financial assistance from various government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and Department of Health.
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