SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, expressed his firm commitment to improve the affordability and accessibility of quality health care in the country during the launch of the 130th Malasakit Center at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte on Friday, July 23.

This is the second Malasakit Center in the province and fifth in the region after Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital in Laoag City; Gabriela Silang General Hospital in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City; and Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union.

In his virtual message, the senator noted that many Filipinos living in poor or far-flung communities are unable to get medical care for health problems, which adversely affect their productivity and quality of life.

This has been more evident as the country continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

The senator warned against those delaying or ignoring their need for medical attention and encouraged those struggling with high out-ofpocket payments for their treatment and medication to visit their local Malasakit Center where they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government.

“Hindi pumipili ang Malasakit Center. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka. Wala nang dahilan para hindi kayo matulungan, lalung-lalo na kung poor o indigent patient ka. Pakiusap sa hospital staff, huwag niyong pababayaan ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan, ‘yung helpless, hopeless at walang matakbuhan sa panahong ito (There is no favoritism at the Malasakit Center. If you are a Filipino, you are qualified. There is no reason why you cannot be helped, especially if you are a poor or indigent patient. I appeal to the hospital staff, don’t leave our poor countrymen hanging, the helpless, hopeless and those with no one to turn to during these times),” said Go.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where Filipino patients can conveniently apply for medical assistance from relevant government agencies, specifically the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

To ensure Filipinos have easy access to quality and comprehensive medical care in a cost-effective manner, Go had principally authored and sponsored in the Senate the measure that became Republic Act (RA) 11463, otherwise known as the ”Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.”

The law mandates all hospitals run by the DoH plus the Philippine General Hospital to establish its own Malasakit Center. Other public hospitals may also have its own Malasakit Center provided that these meet a standard set of criteria in accordance with the law to ensure the sustainability of its operations.

“Kung hindi sapat ang tulong ng mga ahensya, may iniwang pondo ang Office of the President para maging ‘zero balance’ ang billing n’yo. At wala na kayong babayaran sa ospital. Ngayon, kung may pasyente na hindi kayang gamutin diyan, pwede natin kayong dalhin dito sa Maynila, at ako na po ang sasagot sa gastusin n’yo (If the assistance from the agencies are insufficient, the Office of the President has a reserve fund to make your billing reach ‘zero balance.’ Now, if the there’s a patient who can no longer be treated in a locality, we can bring that patient to Manila, and I will shoulder the expenses)” reassured Go.

Following the DoH’s recent confirmation of local transmissions of the Delta variant, the senator went on to announce that the Duterte Administration is taking steps to ensure that hospitals and health facilities have what they need to respond to a possible sudden surge in cases.

He urged the public to continue to stay vigilant and take extra precautionary measures, even if one is fully vaccinated, to avoid any exposure to the variant.

The Delta variant, he warned, is 40 percent to 60 percent more transmissible than the original coronavirus strain and is more resistant to existing vaccines.

“Nagpadala na ang gobyerno ng karagdagang life-saving medicine at equipment sa mga high-surge

Patuloy po nitong ginagawa ang lahat para balansehin ang economic

at public health needs ng bansa. Pero, siyempre, pinakaimportante pa rin sa amin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino (The government has already sent additional life-saving medicines and equipment to highsurge areas. The government is doing everything to balance the economic and public health needs of the country. But, of course, the most important thing for President Rodrigo Duterte and I are the lives and health of every Filipino),” explained Go.

Go also disclosed that the President is working closely with the heads of the DoH and PhilHealth to fast-track the disbursement of hospital claims, submitted to the government to ensure the continued and unhampered delivery of health at this critical time.

“Matapos magpulong ng Pangulo, Health Secretary Francisco Duque at (PhilHealth) chief [Dante] Gierran ay gumawa na ang PhilHealth ng mga hakbang nitong nakaraang linggo para mapabilis ang proseso sa pagbabayad. Importante na mabayaran agad ang mga ospital para tuluy-tuloy ang serbisyo, may pambayad ito sa mga empleyado at may pangdagdag na kama (After the President met with Health Secretary Francisco Duque and (PhilHealth) chief [Dante] Gierran, PhilHealth immediately acted to find ways on how to fast-track the process of payment. It is important that hospitals are immediately paid to ensure its continued service, it has money to pay for the salaries of the employees and it has additional beds),” said Go.

“Gayunpaman, nakikiusap ako sa mga ospital na iwasan ang misrepresentations at false claims dahil nagpapabagal ito sa proseso. Dapat handa tayong lahat sakaling tumaas ang bilang ng mga kaso (Nevertheless, I appealed to hospitals to avoid misrepresentations and false claims because these delay the process. We should be ready in the event that cases surge),” he ended.

Following the ceremony, the senator’s staff distributed meals, food packs, vitamins, face masks and face shields to a total of 1,043 frontline medical workers and 70 indigent patients.

They provided select medical frontliners new pairs of shoes while others were given bicycles. Some also received computer tablets, which their children can use for their education.

In addition, the DSWD distributed financial assistance to each indigent patient and 590 rank-and-file hospital employees, including janitors and security guards.