Malasakit Center bill passes second reading

Senate Bill (SB) No. 1076 or the “Malasakit Center Act of 2019” sponsored by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go was amended before being approved on second reading during the Senate regular session on Wednesday, 6 November.

Adopted were amendments from Senators Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Ralph Recto, and Go himself.

Go’s amendment was not prohibiting a patient or his or her representative from accessing and requesting medical and financial assistance directly from concerned agencies.

From Drilon, the amendment is to not limit access to assistance to or availability of medical and financial assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients to fulfill the universality of the Malasakit Center.

The bill was also modified so that it will not exclude individual referrals to other agencies for financial assistance.

From Recto, the amendment is to include the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) as Malasakit Centers site even if it is run by the University of the Philippines – Manila.

Go agreed and reminded colleagues that a Malasakit Center was already established at the PGH.

From Hontiveros, the amendment is to enhance the health promotion and education functions of the Malasakit Centers.

Intended to reduce the out-of-pocket expenditures of indigent and poor patients including non-medical expenses, like transportation costs, SB 1076 seeks to establish Malasakit Centers in all Department of Health-run hospitals throughout the country.

The centers will serve as one-stop shops for all medical and financial assistance to indigent and poor patients, putting in one center all government agencies presently involved in giving these assistances.

Malasakit Centers will also serve as health care processing centers for patient assistance and referral to provide much needed system support for patient navigation under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

Currently, there are 49 Malasakit Centers nationwide. Go seeks to institutionalize and set criteria for the establishment of Malasakit Centers to ensure that these centers are properly staffed so that concerned agencies are represented and are functioning properly to help every Filipino in need.