DOH: Malasakit Centers gave P14.6 billion in aid to patient-beneficiaries in 2022

Malasakit Centers gave P14.6 billion worth of government assistance to over 1.4 million beneficiary patients in 2022, the DOH said on Thursday.

DOH officer in charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire said four more centers have been designated in government hospitals.

Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop facility at hospitals where agencies receive and process requests for medical and financial assistance for indigent and financially incapacitated patients.

Since its establishment in 2018, Malasakit Center has assisted 7,481,333 beneficiary patients with a total of P50.8 billion, according to the DOH.

Vergeire said the DOH was working on expanding the assistance to cover outpatient drug benefits among others.

She added that state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was strengthening its financing strategies to prevent out-of-pocket expenses from patients. —NB, GMA Integrated News