Sen. Go seeks to institutionalize ‘Malasakit Centers’ for the poor
PATRON. Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go delivers the Keynote Address during the launching of the Malasakit Center at the ER Building of the Bicol Medical Center (BMC), August 3, 2019, Naga City. (JRMadrid-PIAV/Camarines Sur)
NAGA CITY --- A one-stop shop where all concerned government agencies are represented, all intact under one roof to offer services to the relatives of patients seeking medical and financial assistance – this is the concept of the Malasakit Center which Senator Christopher “Bong” Go intends to institutionalize.
This is to ensure that all the indigents who are in dire need of medical support can avail of these benefits long after his term is over.
“I am planning to file a bill sa Senate, since institutionalizing Malasakit Centers is one of my top ten priority bills, kahit na po panibagong administrasyon na, tuloy tuloy pa po ang serbisyo ng Malasakit Centers,” Go said during the inauguration of another Malasakit Center in Naga City, at the Bicol Medical Center, here.
The Senator said that the presence of Malasakit Centers in various parts of the country will lessen the burden of indigent Filipinos, who aside from worrying about their relatives’ condition are still hounded by huge hospital bills.
The said office will spare the relatives of going to and fro from one agency to another, accomplish tons of documents just to avail of hospital bill discounts or seek for zero-billing upon the patient’s hospital discharge.
Government offices which are housed inside the Malasakit Centers include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCO) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
“Nandodoon rin po yung mga social worker para tumulong sa kanila at magbibigay o mag aambag-ambag po ang iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at kung may balanse pa po ay tutulongan po ng Malasakit Center. Ang target po nito ay zero balance,” the Senator elaborated.
Go said that there are already 39 Malasakit Centers scattered all over the country to respond to the growing needs of indigent patients seeking medical and financial help.
Bicol Medical Center (BMC) OIC Medical Center Chief II Dr. Francisco Sales III extended his deep gratitude to Senator Go for making BMC the home of another Malasakit Center for Bicolanos.
“We have been preparing for months, since April for the unveiling and we feel extremely honored by the presence of the honorable Senator. It is a matter of great pleasure for all of us, especially the Bicolanos that he could find time to be with us this afternoon despite his occupation and hectic schedules which undoubtedly show his kindheartedness and interest to improve the healthcare services in the country,” Sales said.