First P50M check for Malasakit Center in Cebu delivered
Each month, the National Government will give the Malasakit Center in Cebu’s largest public hospital P50 million to cover the bills of poor patients.
“This is monthly because the President doesn’t want to see patients who can’t afford to buy medicines and other medical services,” said Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, who turned over the first P50-million check.
The Malasakit Center, based in the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, was unveiled during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit last February. A campaign in Cebu to persuade Go to run for the Senate began about a month after that.
To help indigent patients in the Visayas, the National Government will grant P50 million in financial assistance a month to the Malasakit Center in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).
Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go announced this yesterday after turning over the first check for P50 million to the Malasakit Center.
“This is monthly because the President doesn’t want to see patients who can’t afford to buy medicines and other medical services,” he said.
In a speech, Go said the P50 million is the fulfillment of President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise when the center was launched last February.
“This money is for the Filipino people because the President really wants to help those who are in need especially those who need health services,” he said.
The amount was taken from the President’s socio-civic funds.
Dr. Gerardo Aquino, medical director of VSMMC, and Department of Health 7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas received the check yesterday during a program attended by Go, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, among other Malacañang officials.
The Malasakit Center aims to bring government hospital services closer to indigent patients, as well as the services of the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
“One does not need an endorsement from a politician. All they have to do is go to the Malasakit Center and avail themselves of the aid,” Go said.
The center in VSMMC will accommodate all indigent patients in the Visayas region.