The 100th Malasakit Center was inaugurated at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City, Tuesday.
The Malasakit Center is a program of the government that aims to be a one-stop hub for requesting assistance that will hasten the delivery of medical services and give patients access to free medicines and medical intervention.
During the inauguration, Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said the event is a "critical milestone" in the mission to improve the Filipino people's access to quality health care.
"It is only right that we celebrate the establishment of the 100th Malasakit Center here at RITM, as it proves that our initiatives are working, and that our citizens recognize our efforts to improve our services for their health and safety," Duque said in his speech.
"To the whole RITM, thank you for responding to the call to widen, make easy, and improve the access of citizens to healthcare services," Duque said. "We need to unite under the banner of Universal Health Care, to realize our goal of a Philippines where quality healthcare is afforded to all," he added.
With the Malasakit Center in place at the RITM, the DOH said patients of RITM and residents of Muntinlupa can easily reach out to the services of the Health department, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The RITM is the country's center for infectious and tropical diseases, with expertise in research, laboratory diagnosis, training, health care, and biological production.
The Institute envisions itself as a dynamic institution responsive to public health needs through excellence in research, training, control, and management of infectious and tropical diseases.