Poor urged to look after own health

(The Philippine Star), 18 Jun 2021

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go encouraged poor and indigent patients to prioritize their medical-related needs amid the ongoing health crisis caused by COVID-19.

As the Senate committee on health chairman, he assured them of a convenient way to avail of government assistance through any of the 120 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

Go attended the launch of the country’s 120th Malasakit Center at the San Lazaro Hospital (SLH) in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Wednesday. It is the 25th established in the National Capital Region and fourth in Manila, in addition to the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center in the same district and the Philippine General Hospital in Ermita.

In his speech during the launch, the senator emphasized that Filipinos must be given convenient access to medical services. He strongly advised indigent patients to avail of the services of the Malasakit Center where they may conveniently seek medical assistance to cover their hospital and other medical related expenses.

He explained that medical assistance programs available through the Malasakit Center could cover the share of their health-related expenses.

“It does not discriminate. If you are a poor and indigent patient, you are qualified. This is people’s money which we are giving back through a better service,” Go said.

He advised hospital personnel to ensure that those who cannot afford, particularly the poorest of the poor, must be provided treatment to ensure that lives are protected especially amid an ongoing health crisis.

The Malasakit Center was institutionalized under Republic Act 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate prior to President Duterte’s signing it into law on Dec. 2, 2019.

The center is a one-stop shop for the government’s medical assistance programs through partner agencies – Departments of Health and of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The Malasakit Center covers laboratories, medicines, surgeries and other patient services and expenses.

SLH chief Dr. Edmundo Lopez thanked Go for his “noble purpose of helping the poor.”

As a gesture of appreciation for the SLH’s excellent work and steadfast commitment, the senator’s team distributed meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 1,526 medical frontliners following the ceremony.

Selected recipients were given new pairs of shoes, while some were provided bicycles for commuting. Others received computer tablets to help their children access learning materials while Go underscored the importance of investing in the local health care system to ensure Filipinos, regardless of their social standing, are able to receive quality medical services.