Bong Go aids patients, frontliners during team’s monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte

Committed to improve access to healthcare services especially for indigent Filipinos, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, extended support to patients and frontliners during his team’s monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at Kapatagan Provincial Hospital (KPH) in Lanao del Norte on Thursday, June 29.

Go’s team provided assistance, such as grocery packs, masks, vitamins, shirts, and snacks to 132 patients and 229 frontliners. They also gave away mobile phones, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial assistance to qualified patients that day.

In his video message, the senator emphasized the significance of the continuing operations of Malasakit Centers to ensure the efficient provision of medical assistance to particularly poor and indigent residents.

“As Chairman ng Committee on Health, priority ko talaga itong Malasakit Center para mayroon kayong nalalapitan sa inyong pagpapaospital. Nandito na ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno, ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD na tutulong sa inyong pagpapaospital. Lapitan niyo yang Malasakit Center. Para yan sa Pilipino, pagmamay-ari niyo yang Malasakit Center. Para yan sa inyo,” Go expressed.

The Malasakit Centers program is a brainchild of Go, designed to streamline medical assistance programs to facilitate the provision of healthcare services to all Filipinos.

Under Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored, every DOH-run hospital, plus the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City, are mandated to have their own Malasakit Center. Other public hospitals may also have a Malasakit Center upon assessment of DOH to ensure they meet the criteria provided in the law.

There are now 158 operational centers across the country.

During the visit, Senator Go’s team engaged with and took note of the challenges faced by the staff, patients, and medical professionals in the hospital.

The primary objective of the monitoring visit was to identify any issue that might hinder the prompt and effective delivery of medical assistance. By identifying these obstacles, Senator Go aims to implement necessary improvements and measures to overcome them, ensuring that the center operates smoothly and effectively as part of his oversight function on the implementation of the law.

“Nalulungkot ako kapag naririnig ko na may ayaw magpagamot dahil takot sa babayaran sa ospital. Huwag po kayo matakot dahil tutulungan kayo ng Malasakit Center. Pangalagaan natin ang buhay na ibinigay sa atin ng ating Panginoon,” Go said.

“Sa totoo lang, pera naman yan ng taumbayan. Binabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang serbisyo na may malasakit sa inyong pangangailangan,” he emphasized.

Senator Go commended the staff of the Malasakit Center at KPH for their dedication and hard work. He recognized their tireless efforts in assisting patients and ensuring that the medical assistance process is efficient and effective.

“Pakiusap ko lang sa mga social workers at hospital staff, habaan ninyo ang inyong pasensya sa mga pasyente lalo na yung mga mahihirap. Gabayan natin sila, magmalasakit tayo, at tulungan sila sa kanilang pagpapagamot,” he stressed.

On the previous day, Go personally attended the 64th Araw ng Lanao del Norte celebration in Nunungan town, provided assistance to indigents and witnessed the launch of the Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park.

He also visited Tubod and checked the legislative building, an infrastructure project he supported, and led another relief effort for 1,000 indigent individuals in the town.

Lastly, the senator attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center and spearheaded another distribution activity for a thousand more struggling residents in Lala town.