The 86th Malasakit Center at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center
| |
| Formation | February 2018; 6 years ago (2018-02) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Bong Go |
Region served | Philippines |
| Services | Government medical assistance subsidy processing |
Director | Varies by branch |
The Malasakit Center refers to a chain of one-stop-shop centers for medical and financial assistance provided by various agencies of the Philippine government.
The Malasakit Center program was started by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, led by Bong Go following a directive of President Rodrigo Duterte. The center is meant as a one-stop shop for government medical assistance for indigent Filipinos. The first Malasakit Center opened in February 2018.[1][2]
When Go was elected Senator in 2019, he continued to promote the Malasakit Center; authoring a bill in the Senate that would institutionalize the center.[3] President Duterte signed into law on December 3, 2019, the Malasakit Center Act, also known as Republic Act No. 11463 which was originally proposed from House Bill no. 5477.[4] As per law, the government is obliged to establish Malasakit Centers in all hospitals under the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital. The legislation also authorizes the Philippine National Police to set up of such facilities.[3]
Eligible indigent Filipinos can avail multiple subsidies from various government agencies in Malasakit Centers. Prior to the establishment of Malasakit Centers, indigents had to fill up multiple documents and go to separate government offices to lessen their medical expenses.[5]
The Malasakit Center processes the availing of subsidies from the following government agencies:[2]
As of April 19, 2024, there are 163 Malasakit Centers across the Philippines, with 91 in Luzon, 30 in the Visayas and 42 in Mindanao.[6]
