GO SEES ENHANCED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN MINDANAO
THE health care system in Northern Mindanao is set to get a significant upgrade with the opening of the 162nd Malasakit Center at the First Misamis Oriental General Hospital in Medina.
This initiative is part of Sen. Bong Go’s continuous efforts and support to provide accessible health care for the less privileged individuals in the region.
Through Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored, the country now boasts 162 Malasakit Centers, with 42 located in Mindanao, including nine in Northern Mindanao alone. There are also 90 in Luzon and 30 in Visayas.
Aside from the newly launched center in First Misamis Oriental General Hospital, Malasakit Centers in Region 10 are also located in the Northern Mindanao Medical Center and J.R. Borja General Hospital, both in Cagayan de Oro City; Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital in Iligan City; Mayor Hilario A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in Ozamiz City; Kapatagan Provincial Hospital in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag, Bukidnon; Doña Maria D. Tan Memorial Hospital in Tangub City; and Camiguin General Hospital in Mambajao, Camiguin.
Go, the Malasakit Centers program architect and chairman of the Health and Demography Committee, cited the initiative’s impact in aiding indigent Filipinos in accessing medical services.
“As the Malasakit Centers continue to spread, our capacity to bring the government’s medical assistance closer to the poor, especially in Northern Mindanao, is further expanding,” he said.
“The opening of each Malasakit Center is a step towards better health for Filipinos. Let us remember that health is equivalent to the life of every Filipino,” Go added.
The Malasakit Centers program is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies with medical assistance programs such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DoH), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) are put under one room inside select public hospitals to provide streamlined access to such medical aid from the government.
“I said, why must we make it harder for the poor seeking government help? It’s their money and it should be returned to them through fast, proper, and convenient services and assistance, especially regarding health,” said Go.
“As long as you are Filipino and a poor patient, you are qualified for the Malasakit Center,” he stressed.
To further help bridge the gap between health care and Filipinos in need, Go also advocated establishing more Super Health Centers nationwide to bring primary care, consultations and early disease detection closer to communities.
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DoH, led by Secretary Ted Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.
Among these funds, 43 are intended for Region 10, with thirteen in Misamis Oriental, including six in Cagayan de Oro City.
Northern Mindanao Medical Center currently houses several specialty centers, including cardiovascular care, lung care, orthopedic center, mental health, neonatal care, infectious disease and tropical medicine.
“Let’s bring the government’s services closer to those who need them. As your Mr. Malasakit, I will continue to serve you to the best of my ability,” said Go.