Samal Island Super Health Center launched

In keeping with his commitment to provide more Filipinos better access to quality healthcare, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go attended the groundbreaking of another Super Health Center in the country, this time in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte recently.

In his speech, Go cited that more Super Health Centers are planned to be established in strategic areas in the country to ensure that more Filipinos, particularly those in rural areas, would not need to travel far to get the basic health services they need.

The senator also reassured that he is in coordination with the local officials of Davao del Norte to ensure that the establishment of another Super Health Center in the province, this time in Panabo City, will push through.

Services offered in Super Health Centers will include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose and throat service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Go was instrumental in pushing for adequate funding for the construction of the Super Health Centers.

The senator previously stated that with the budget allocated in the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program, the government will be able to build 307 Super Health Centers across the country this year. He is pushing that additional funding will be included in the 2023 health budget so that the government can build more especially in other grassroots communities.

The senator likewise reassured that medical assistance programs are more accessible through the nearby Malasakit Centers at Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City or at Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.

Go shared that the idea of the Malasakit Centers program began when he personally witnessed the struggles of disadvantaged families to get the medical services they need. The program was later institutionalized under Republic Act 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored.

The Malasakit Center brings together all relevant agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under one roof to reduce the hospital expenses of particularly poor and indigent patients by covering services and other fees.