The second Malasakit Center in Pangasinan province and the 165th in the country is now open, located at Conrado F. Estrella Regional Trauma and Medical Center here, one of the new hospitals under the Department of Health – Ilocos Region.

In line with the Universal Health Care Act, the Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop for various government agencies, including the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

It aims to streamline the process of providing medical assistance programs to poor and indigent patients without requiring multiple visits and extensive paperwork, DOH-CHD-1 medical officer Dr. Rheuel Bobis said in an interview on Saturday.

“This is a one-stop-shop for poor or indigent patients who are in need of financial and medical assistance. There is also an express lane for persons with disabilities and senior citizens,” he said.

The other Malasakit Centers in the region are located at Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union; Mariano Marcos Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte; Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; and Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital Gabriela Silang in Vigan City.

The DOH said Malasakit Centers have aided over 10 million Filipinos.

“Layunin natin gawing mas accessible ang serbisyong medikal para sa lahat, lalo na sa ating mga kababayang higit na nangangailangan (We want to make medical services accessible to the people especially those most in need),” Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, who conceptualized the Malasakit program, said during the inauguration program on Friday.

Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 authored by Go institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.

Romel Aguilar, information officer of Asingan town which is near Rosales, said the center is accessible to their residents.

“The family members of indigent patients can now transact with the different concerned government agencies for financial assistance for their hospital bills and medical needs,” he said.

Also on Friday, additional assistance was distributed to 500 displaced workers and 22 local cooperatives in Rosales town through the DSWD and Cooperative Development Authority, respectively. (PNA)