Pandacan lola turns to Malasakit Center for baby’s heart surgery

A grandmother from Pandacan, Manila, has turned to the Malasakit Center for help as her infant grandson battles a life-threatening heart condition at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.

Raquel Mateo, 46, has been frequently visiting the hospital since her grandson Caleb was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for tricuspid valve disease, a rare congenital heart defect.

Faced with rising hospital costs, Mateo said her family found hope through the Malasakit Center, a government-run one-stop shop for medical financial assistance.

“We heard about the Malasakit Center and how it has helped so many Filipinos,” she said in Filipino, expressing gratitude for the support they received.

It was through one of these centers that Raquel found relief — not just financial, but emotional, and psychological.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, author of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, said the program has assisted over 17 million Filipinos. There are currently 167 Malasakit Centers operating across the country, helping reduce out-of-pocket expenses for indigent patients.

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reaffirmed his push to strengthen the country’s healthcare system by building more Super Health Centers and implementing the newly enacted Regional Specialty Centers Act (RA 11959), which mandates specialty care hubs within DOH regional hospitals.

During his proclamation as a re-elected senator on May 17, Go reaffirmed his commitment to public service, particularly in health care.

“For my second term, with all sincerity, I will continue to push for pro-poor programs and laws, especially on health. Health is wealth. We must work together to bring quality medical services closer to our people, particularly the poor and indigent patients. Ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he declared.