Go: Malasakit centers should not refuse any patient

The primary author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463, known as the Malasakit Centers Act, stressed the availability of programs from the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) at Malasakit Centers.

The funding for each medical assistance program is included in the budgets of DOH and DSWD as indicated in the General Appropriations Act or, in the case of PCSO and PhilHealth, by their mandates and the Universal Health Care Law.

"We should return the money to the people. That is the Malasakit Center. That is why it is a one-stop shop ... that is the law. The Malasakit Center's assistance will continue. Because it is the people's money," said Go in Filipino in his speech during his visit to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute last Wednesday.

He cited DOH Memorandum 2023-0235, issued by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, mandating the centers to provide essential services to all patients.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also reaffirmed his commitment to exercising its oversight functions to ensure the continued operations of Malasakit Centers.

As reported by DOH, more than 17.5 million Filipinos have benefited from the centers.

Go dismissed rumors that Malasakit Centers no longer have funds to help patients. He stressed that all four government agencies have programs and corresponding funding allocations for medical assistance, which ensures that Malasakit Centers remain operational and fully capable of providing medical aid.

There are 167 Malasakit Centers in government hospitals nationwide.