Bong Go cites health care services in Mindanao

SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reaffirmed his commitment to Filipinos’ well-being and the country’s health sector during the 17th Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Board of Directors Meeting at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City, on Friday, February 16.

Go, an ex-officio member of the board representing the Senate, highlighted his people-centered approach to health care by advocating for the continuing operations of Malasakit Centers, the expansion of regional specialty centers, the establishment of more super health centers and improving other health facilities in the countryside, particularly in underserved areas in Mindanao.

Republic Act (RA) 11463, or the “Malasakit Centers Act,” which Go principally authored and sponsored, aims to support impoverished patients in reducing hospital costs. There are 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide, including 40 in Mindanao. So far, around 10 million Filipinos have benefited from the program, according to the Department of Health (DoH).

“There are Malasakit Centers as far as Jolo, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Maguindanao, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Sarangani, Gen[eral] San[tos] and in Zamboanga City. That is 40 in Mindanao and a total of 159 nationwide,” shared Go.

Through the collective efforts of the DoH, led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have also been allocated for constructing over 700 super health centers nationwide, of which 224 are to be constructed at strategic locations in Mindanao. The initiative aims to decongest hospitals and make primary health care accessible to underprivileged Filipinos.

Moreover, Go discussed the establishment of regional specialty centers, which are set to provide specialized medical services in all regions, ensuring that Mindanaoans have access to high-level medical care closer to home. Go is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of RA 11959, or the “Regional Specialty Centers Act.” The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DoH regional hospitals.

In Mindanao, hospitals like Zamboanga City Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Mayor Hilarion Ramiro Sr. Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao Regional Medical Center, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Caraga Regional Hospital, Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center and Amai Pakpak Medical Center will have specialty centers to address various specialized health concerns.

Go also successfully sponsored the passage of 69 laws for the upgrade and establishment of public hospitals all over the country. This is aside from various health infrastructure and equipment he supported for various hospitals in Mindanao.

As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go advocated for several projects in Mindanao, such as procuring ambulances for some local government units and medical equipment for various hospitals. He also supported the construction of a 300bed capacity infectious diseases building for SPMC in Davao City.

During the MinDA meeting, the governing board member of the National Research Council of the Philippines, Gisela Concepcion, also expressed her gratitude toward the senator’s contributions, saying, “I would like to thank the good senator for your Malasakit Centers programs and to help our country deal with infectious diseases and even mental health. Thank you so much for your efforts.”

Recently, Go joined the inauguration of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory I at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City on Thursday, February 15. He stressed the critical need for such facilities in regions outside of Manila, particularly in Mindanao.

“They no longer need to travel to Manila if they have the catheterization lab here,” he stated, highlighting the importance of having comprehensive medical services available in the region to ease the burdens faced by patients.

Go then expressed gratitude toward his colleagues in the Senate for their collaborative efforts in securing the necessary funding for the laboratory.