A Pasay City resident who suffered serious injuries after a fall at City Hall was able to undergo surgery and leave the hospital without paying any medical bills after receiving assistance from the Malasakit Center at Pasay General Hospital.

Lolita Martin said she was injured on 4 April 2025 after misjudging the height of a staircase due to impaired vision in her left eye, causing her to fall and lose the ability to stand. She was taken by ambulance to Pasay General Hospital, where doctors later determined that metal implants were needed to treat fractures in her hip and thigh.

“Noong April 4, na-aksidente po ako sa City Hall. Yung pag-akyat ko po ng hagdan, hindi ko alam na mataas yung hagdan, nabababaan ko dahil malabo na po yung kaliwang mata ko. Bumagsak po akong bigla, hindi na po ako nakatayo,” Martin said.

She said doctors informed her that surgery was necessary because of the severity of her injuries, but she initially worried about how to pay for the procedure.

“So sa tindi po ng sakit ko, sinabi ng doktor na kailangan po lagyan ako ng bakal. So nag-isip po ako dahil wala po ako mapagkukunan ng paglalagyan ng bakal ko, gastos," she said.

"Ang ginawa ko po, pumayag po ako. Sabi ko, bahala na si Lord. Meron naman siguro isang tao na tutulong sa akin para makaraos ako sa dinaranas ko ng pagkabali ng buto ko sa pigi, sa hita,” she added.

Martin said assistance came unexpectedly while she was already confined, after Malasakit Center representatives coordinated with her family.

“Noong nakahiga na po ako, lumapit po ang Malasakit Center sa asawa ko na in-interview po tungkol po doon sa bakal na kailangan ko,” she said.

She said the support began even before the surgery was performed.

“Tinulungan po nila ako, binigyan muna po ako ng foam para po hindi ma-dislocate yung buto ko. 'Yun po ang unang tinulong nila sa akin. Pangalawa, ang tinulong nila sa akin, yung sa bakal,” she said.

After undergoing surgery and completing her hospital stay, Martin said she was surprised when she was cleared for discharge on 25 April.

“Tapos nung nangyari na po yung na-opera na po ako, nung lalabas na po ako ng April 25, wala po akong binayaran kahit singkong duling sa tulong ng Malasakit Center,” she said.

She added that all hospital-related expenses, including professional fees, were covered.

“Ako po’y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa tulong ng inyong Malasakit Center na wala po akong binayaran ni singkong duling sa ospital ng Pasay General Hospital. Maski po yung charges ng operation ng doktor, wala po. Kasama po lahat doon,” Martin said.

Malasakit Centers serve as one-stop shops designed to help indigent patients reduce hospital expenses. The program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, principally authored and sponsored by Christopher Bong Go.

As of this year, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide. The Department of Health said the program has provided medical assistance to more than 17 million Filipinos.

In sharing her experience, Martin also expressed gratitude to Go, who has been pushing health-related reforms and expanded access to medical assistance for indigent patients.

Go reiterated his commitment to public service and prioritizing social services.

“Hindi ko sasayangin yung tiwalang binigay n’yo po sa akin. Maglilingkod po ako sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. 'Yan naman po ang aking pinangako noon. Sipag, serbisyo, at malasakit po ang puwede kong i-alay sa ating mga kababayang Filipino,” he said.