DOH launches Malasakit Center at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center

The Department of Health on Friday launched a Malasakit Center at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila to serve as a one-stop shop to serve the needs of patients in need of financial assistance.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday, said a joint administrative order was signed on Friday by the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for this project, and was witnessed by a representative from the Office of the President.

Duque said the Malasakit Centers will allow patients to have government services under one roof so they can get the financial assistance they need.

"'Yung konsepto ng Malasakit Center, ito'y pinag-iisa 'yong mga paggagalingan ng pondo para magastos o pangbayad sa pagpapaospital ng ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na ang mga mahihirap na siya ang utos ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte. At bahagi ito ng kanyang promisa na talagang ilalapit niya sa taumbayan ang mga serbisyo at ang mga serbisyong pangkalusugan ay isa na sa mga ito," Duque said.

"Maganda ito kasi imbes na ang pasyente ay pupunta sa PCSO, PAGCOR [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation], DSWD, Philhealth, DOH, ay pag-iisahin na lang sa isang Malasakit Center. Hindi na magpapamasahe pa," he added.

For instance, if a member cannot pay the hospital bill beyond what Philhealth can offer—as in the case of some diseases such as cancer or renal disease needing transplant—the member can ask for financial assistance from PCSO or DOH through its Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients Program, Duque said.

"Magandang programa ito. Palalawigin natin ito. Sa susunod na mga linggo o buwan, magbubukas din tayo ng panibagong Malasakit Center sa mga DOH-retained hospitals dito sa  Metro Manila," the DOH secretary added.

Among the hospitals being eyed to have Malasakit Centers are East Avenue Medical Center and Rizal Medical Center, Duque said.

A Malasakit Center was unveiled by Duterte last February at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Duque said having a Malasakit Center will prevent the giving of financial assistance repeatedly to the same person.

"Maiiwasan rin dito 'yung ibang humihingi sa iba't ibang ahensiya kahit bayad na. Nagdodoble. Dito makakita mo agad ano 'yung kailangan. May sistema," he added. —KG, GMA News