* Cites how Malasakit Centers help patients with hospital billsSen. Christopher “Bong” Go expressed support to the Philippine Geriatric Center (PGC) Bill during the Senate plenary session.
“Bilang Vice Chairperson ng Committee on Health at isa sa mga author, nakasuporta po ako sa panukalang batas na nagtatatag ng Philippine Geriatric Center sa bansa. Marapat lamang po ang pagtatag ng isang ospital na nakasentro sa kalusugan ng mga senior citizens dahil alam natin na hindi maiiwasang magkasakit habang tumatanda tayo.” Go said.
Go further said that being family-oriented is part of Filipino culture: “Tayong mga Pilipino aykilalbilang family-oriented. Hindi natin pinababayaan ang matatanda. Tandaan natin na wala tayo sa mundong ito kung hindi dahil sa ating mga lolo at lola. Nasa kultura na natin na alagaan ang mga nakakatanda.”
The senator added that elderly individuals often suffer from chronic illnesses due to their advanced age and that their conditions often manifest in functional decline and cognitive impairments which require long-term care, rehabilitation, and palliative services.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicate the number of senior citizens in the country is projected to reach over 14 million by 2030.
“This growing population of senior citizens underscores the need for a dedicated specialized healthcare service that is appropriate for the urgent and specialized needs of aging individuals,” Go explained.
Just last month, Go co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 1302, or the proposed PGC Act, mandating a dedicated tertiary speciality hospital for the aging population under the direct supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).
Expanding on his health agenda, Go emphasized the importance of specialized care in all regions. He is also one of the authors and the principal sponsor of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
Related to this, Go underscored the need to fully implement RA 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all DOH-run hospitals, including the proposed Philippine Geriatric Center under the DOH. Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of the said law.
“Nasa batas na puwedeng paglagyan ng Malasakit Center ang DOH Hospital… Malaking tulong po ito sa mga matatanda hindi na nila kailangan pumila pa sa PCSO para humingi ng tulong. Bakit lalabas pa sila ng hospital kung qualified naman po iyung Geriatric Center na paglagyan din po ng Malasakit Center,” Go remarked, citing the provisions in the Malasakit Centers Law.
Malasakit Centers serve as one-stop shops for government medical assistance programs. To date, there are currently 167 Malasakit Centers operating nationwide. Additionally, the DOH reported that more than 17 million Filipinos are benefitting from this initiative.
“Huwag pong pahirapan ang mga pasyente, lalong lalo na mga senior citizen natin. Bigyan natin sila ng mas mabilis na paraan para hindi sila mahirapan pa,“ Go concluded.
