Senate OKs Malasakit Center bill on third and final reading

Voting 18-0, the Senate approved on third and final reading Monday a bill seeking to establish Malasakit Centers in all hospitals run by the Department of Health throughout the country.

Senate Bill 1076, sponsored by Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, intends to reduce the out-of-pocket expenditures of indigent and poor patients including non-medical expenses.

The Malasakit Centers will serve as one-stop shops for all medical and financial assistance to indigent and poor patients, putting in one center all government agencies presently involved in giving these assistance.

Malasakit Centers will also serve as health care processing centers for patient assistance and referral to provide much needed system support for patient navigation under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

At present, there are 49 Malasakit Centers already established nationwide.

Go thanked his colleagues for supporting the measure and pushing for its immediate passage.

The House of Representatives is still discussing its version of the bill. — RSJ, GMA News