PASIG CITY, September 13, 2018 -- Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go today dispelled the apprehensions of patients about going to the Malasakit Centers, saying they do not even need to have a Malasakit Card to avail themselves of its services.
“Hindi naman kailangan na may card ka para pumunta ka, para pumila ka. You can avail of it anytime, even without card.” he said in an interview.
(You don’t need to have a [Malasakit] Card for you to go there and line up. You can avail yourselves of it anytime, even without card.)
The government, however, is giving Malasakit Center Cards to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) so they can get priority services. These cards can be availed of for free in any Malasakit Center.
The Malasakit Center is the one-stop shop program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to hasten the delivery of medical services and give poor patients access to free medicines.
Under the program, patients are assisted in availing themselves of the services and financial assistance provided by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Philippine Amusement and Games Corporation (PAGCOR), Department of Health (DoH), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Go has been instrumental in putting up Malasakit Centers all over the country. Currently, there are centers in Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban, Bacolod, Palawan, and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
In a recent media interview, Go said the Centers allow the public to get quality medical services for free.
“Sa mga hospital natin na nilagyan namin ng Malasakit Centers, pwede po silang mag-avail ng mga free medicines, or pag na-admit po sila doon sa hospital, at nagpapagamot po sila, in cooperation, or in coordination with PCSO, DSWD, DOH, and PhilHealth, and finally po ang opisina namin, Office of the President. Through Malasakit Centers, ay tuturuan po sila kung papaano makatulong at mapagamot po sila.” he said.
(They can avail themselves of free medicines or free hospitalization in hospitals where we have put up Malasakit Centers. This is in cooperation and coordination with PCSO, DSWD, DOH, and the Office of the President. Through Malasakit Centers, patients are going to be guided on how they can avail themselves of assistance.) ###
