SEN. Bong Go has called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to maintain a consistent presence of its personnel in all Malasakit Centers nationwide, underscoring the vital role of these centers in ensuring accessible health care support for Filipinos in need.
Go, the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 (Republic Act (RA) 11463), emphasized that PhilHealth’s commitment is essential to the effective delivery of health services that are also mandated under the Universal Health Care Act (RA 11223).
“It would be great if PhilHealth personnel were ready to help at the Malasakit Centers. We cannot neglect our compatriots in their time of need,” Go said, emphasizing that representatives must be on-site to promptly assist the patients with their concerns.
On Oct. 14, Go’s office received PhilHealth’s formal commitment letter, reiterating the agency’s pledge to comply with the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act.
The letter acknowledges PhilHealth’s obligations under the law. It confirms that the agency will deploy personnel to assist in Malasakit Centers nationwide, ensuring patients can efficiently access medical assistance and other benefits.
Go appreciated the agency’s acknowledgment of its role within Malasakit Centers but underscored that consistent monitoring and responsiveness to patients’ needs are vital to upholding the law’s intent.
“The law is clear that we need accessible, affordable health care. And the Malasakit Center is the first step to ensure this,” Go added.
Malasakit Centers, now in 166 locations nationwide, provide a one-stop shop for Filipinos needing financial assistance to cover medical expenses.
According to the Department of Health (DoH), more than 15 million Filipinos have already received aid through the program.
Go noted that by keeping PhilHealth personnel accessible at Malasakit Centers, patients can avoid bureaucratic delays and unnecessary hurdles that may prevent them from receiving immediate assistance.
“When a patient passes by the Malasakit Center, PhilHealth should automatically be there to help — we can’t make our countrymen’s heads hurt anymore. The aim is for them to walk in with questions and leave with solutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, PhilHealth has also officially committed to ensuring the implementation of its promises, such as recommending the reduction of premium contributions, increasing case rates, expanding benefits packages, especially for the top 10 mortality diseases, providing free medicines and assistive devices, such as eyeglasses and wheelchairs; inclusion of dental, visual, emergency and preventive care; as well as updating policies to meet the needs of Filipinos.
Go has pressed PhilHealth to accelerate its other reforms following last month’s long-overdue scrapping of the Single Period of Confinement (SPC) policy.
While its removal was a significant step triggered by Go’s consistent appeals for reform, he highlighted the 24-hour confinement rule, which required patients to be hospitalized for at least a day to qualify for insurance coverage.
PhilHealth officials have also committed to revisiting and removing this rule. Although most of these commitments are still in progress, Go said that the Senate Health Committee will sustain its oversight of PhilHealth’s performance, especially with the looming December deadline for the promised benefit package expansions.
Earlier, Go expressed strong commendation for the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the transfer of PhilHealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury.
“The funds of PhilHealth are for health!” Go reiterated.
While appreciative of the TRO, Go stressed that this is merely a step in his ongoing efforts to ensure that PhilHealth fully delivers on its commitments to Filipinos.
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