GUAGUA—The 158th Malasakit Center was opened at the Diosdado P. Macapagal District Memorial Hospital here over the weekend.
The center is expected to provide fast access to financial aid for health care services.
The opening of the center was led by Governor Dennis Pineda, Vice Gov Lilia Pineda, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, and other local government and health officials.
The Malasakit Center in Guagua town is the 89th of its kind in Luzon and the 15th in Region III.
The one-stop-stop aims to reduce a hospital bill by covering various medical services and expenses, pursuant to Republic Act No. 11463, which Go authored in the Senate.
Under the law, government agencies such as PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) are mandated to assist the patients to get zero-billing when they are discharged from the hospital.
Patients need not proceed to the respective offices of government agencies but may avail of services simultaneously in one venue and it applies a zero-balance billing system.
Malasakit Centers do not provide additional funds for assistance since concerned government agencies implement their own medical and financial assistance.
Go said he witnessed the struggles of patients in covering their medical expenses.
The senator said he recognized the urgent need for a streamlined system of providing medical assistance.
Since the inauguration of the first Malasakit Center in Cebu City in 2018, the number of centers has grown to 158 nationwide, benefitting over seven million individuals, according to the Department of Health.
In Pampanga, other Malasakit Centers are located at Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital and Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital and Diagnostic Center, both in San Fernando City; and at Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City.