Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has renewed his call for the Department of Health (DOH) and the government to accelerate the establishment of Super Health Centers across the country, following a local news documentary that highlighted the dire lack of medical access in rural areas.

The report told the heartbreaking story of Steve, a two-year-old boy from the mountains of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, who suffers from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. He has never received proper medical care due to the distance and cost of reaching a doctor.

His mother, Retchilda, gave birth at home because medical facilities were too far. By the time Steve was brought to a doctor weeks later, it was too late — the damage had been done.

Every trip to seek medical help requires a grueling four-hour journey to Dumaguete City, a trip the family can barely afford. A year later, Steve has yet to return for the MRI scan he urgently needs.

“Let’s work together to bring medical services closer to the people,” Go said in response to the documentary. “These stories remind us why Super Health Centers are essential in our communities, especially in remote and forgotten areas.”

Go emphasized that the centers will focus on primary care, consultations, and early disease detection. They will complement rural health units and barangay health stations by offering services through local governments and PhilHealth’s Konsulta program.

Thanks to the efforts of Go, DOH Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, funding has already been secured for over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also vowed to increase their number, as mentioned in his recent State of the Nation Address.

“This is something we’ve long been fighting for — to allocate funding so we can bring primary healthcare closer to the poor and those living in remote and far-flung areas,” Go added.

As the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go pushed for the Super Health Center initiative during the 2022 budget deliberations under then-President Rodrigo Duterte. That advocacy laid the foundation for the current expansion of the program.

“This is part of our effort to bring government services closer to the poor and those who need them most,” he added.

However, the senator emphasized that securing the budget is only step one.

“We worked hard to secure funding for the Super Health Centers. Now what’s needed is fast and efficient implementation in every community,” he said. “We need to act now for the full implementation of programs that truly help ordinary Filipinos. Super Health Centers should serve as the bridge between families and quality healthcare.”

Go also urged PhilHealth to develop new, innovative programs to ensure that all Filipinos—no matter where they live or how much they earn—can access essential healthcare.

“As a nation, we owe it to every Filipino family to ensure that quality medical services are within their reach, regardless of how remote their location may be,” he said.

“I will continue to push for this so that every family — especially those who feel hopeless and helpless — can access affordable and quality healthcare.”

Beyond Super Health Centers, Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. There are now 167 Malasakit Centers nationwide, which have helped over 17 million Filipinos with their medical bills, according to the DOH.

Go also authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, mandating the establishment of specialty centers in existing DOH hospitals to expand specialized healthcare access across the country.