Malasakit Center bill up for plenary approval

MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to establish Malasakit Centers in government hospitals has been endorsed for plenary approval at the Senate. 

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, sponsor of Senate Bill 1076, said the measure would complement the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law in providing medical assistance and accessible health care to all Filipinos. 

The UHC Law, which President Duterte signed early this year, will ensure health insurance coverage to all Filipinos, according to Go.

He said the UHC Law is expected to reform the health system in the country by improving the delivery of health services, providing significance insurance benefits and coverage and responding to the gap in health workers.

Go clarified that Malasakit Centers would serve only as one-stop shops for medical assistance and would not provide additional funds. 

“In Malasakit Centers, concerned government agencies retain and run their own medical and financial assistance programs,” he said. 

Senators Cynthia Villar, Manny Pacquiao, Sherwin Gatchalian, Sonny Angara, Bong Revilla, Francis Tolentino, Ronald dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed support for the approval of the measure.

There are 42 Malasakit Centers nationwide, which serve around 160,000 to 200,000 patients every month.