Go provides aid to out-patients in San Jose del Monte City
Published Apr 08, 2023 03:47 am
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Updated Apr 08, 2023 03:47 am
The office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided aid to the out-patient department (OPD) patients of the Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan last Holy Tuesday, April 4.
Senator Bong Go (Senate PRIB)
In his video message, Go emphasized the importance of ensuring that OPD patients receive the same level of care and attention as admitted patients. He also urged OPD patients to avail of the services provided by the newly-opened Malasakit Center in the hospital, the launching ceremony for which he personally attended last March 6. “As chairman of the Senate Health Committee, health is my advocacy, and I will continue to prioritize the Malasakit Center program,” Go said. “Why do we have to make it hard for our fellow Filipinos? This is their money and we should return it to them by means of fast service. That is the Malasakit Center,” he added. There are now 157 Malasakit Centers across the country that have served more than seven million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH). Each Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop for medical assistance from different government agencies, such as the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Patients can apply for medical assistance and subsidies for hospital bills, medicines, and other medical expenses in the center without having to go to different government offices located in various locations. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, officially known as Republic Act (RA) 11463, was signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 to institutionalize the program. Go principally authored and sponsored the measure in the Senate. During the relief activity, Go's team distributed masks, shirts, and snacks to 60 OPD patients. Select beneficiaries also received a cellphone, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Meanwhile, representatives from the DSWD provided financial assistance to the patients. Apart from the Malasakit Centers, Go also advocated for the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide, especially in far-flung communities. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. In Bulacan, necessary funds have been allocated last year for the DOH to construct Super Health Centers in the cities of San Jose del Monte and Meycauayan, and in the towns of Balagtas, Bulakan, San Miguel, Guiguinto and Pandi. In 2023, more Super Health Centers were funded in Baliuag City, and in the towns of Angat, Marilao, Obando, Paombong, Plaridel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael. Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. As vice chairman of the Senate finance committee, Go also supported several initiatives to help in the province's development. These include the rehabilitation of the Bulacan State University Activity Center and construction of a multipurpose building in Malolos City, construction of drainages, provision of medical equipment for local hospitals, improvement of the Pandi District Hospital, concreting of a farm-to-market road in San Ildefonso and many more.
Senator Bong Go (Senate PRIB)
In his video message, Go emphasized the importance of ensuring that OPD patients receive the same level of care and attention as admitted patients. He also urged OPD patients to avail of the services provided by the newly-opened Malasakit Center in the hospital, the launching ceremony for which he personally attended last March 6. “As chairman of the Senate Health Committee, health is my advocacy, and I will continue to prioritize the Malasakit Center program,” Go said. “Why do we have to make it hard for our fellow Filipinos? This is their money and we should return it to them by means of fast service. That is the Malasakit Center,” he added. There are now 157 Malasakit Centers across the country that have served more than seven million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH). Each Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop for medical assistance from different government agencies, such as the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Patients can apply for medical assistance and subsidies for hospital bills, medicines, and other medical expenses in the center without having to go to different government offices located in various locations. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, officially known as Republic Act (RA) 11463, was signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 to institutionalize the program. Go principally authored and sponsored the measure in the Senate. During the relief activity, Go's team distributed masks, shirts, and snacks to 60 OPD patients. Select beneficiaries also received a cellphone, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Meanwhile, representatives from the DSWD provided financial assistance to the patients. Apart from the Malasakit Centers, Go also advocated for the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide, especially in far-flung communities. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. In Bulacan, necessary funds have been allocated last year for the DOH to construct Super Health Centers in the cities of San Jose del Monte and Meycauayan, and in the towns of Balagtas, Bulakan, San Miguel, Guiguinto and Pandi. In 2023, more Super Health Centers were funded in Baliuag City, and in the towns of Angat, Marilao, Obando, Paombong, Plaridel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael. Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. As vice chairman of the Senate finance committee, Go also supported several initiatives to help in the province's development. These include the rehabilitation of the Bulacan State University Activity Center and construction of a multipurpose building in Malolos City, construction of drainages, provision of medical equipment for local hospitals, improvement of the Pandi District Hospital, concreting of a farm-to-market road in San Ildefonso and many more.