Health reforms crusader Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has highlighted the alarming trend of Filipinos avoiding hospitalization due to financial fears, reinforcing his call for the swift and full implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. Addressing rising personal concerns among Filipinos, he also emphasized the critical role of Malasakit Centers in alleviating out-of-pocket medical expenses.
“Dapat wala nang Pilipinong natatakot magpa-ospital dahil sa gastos,” said Senator Go. “Kaya nga, sa Universal Health Care Law, ang layunin ay gawing abot-kamay ang serbisyong pangkalusugan para sa lahat.”
According to a recent survey, 70% of adult Filipinos cited staying healthy and avoiding illness as their top personal concern for the fourth quarter of 2024. This underscores a growing anxiety among citizens regarding healthcare accessibility. Senator Go, a staunch advocate for health reforms, noted that this trend is deeply tied to fears of incurring significant medical expenses.
“Ang masakit, kapag may nagkasakit sa pamilya, kung minsan, kailangang magsangla o mangutang. Ito ang sitwasyong dapat nating mabago. Ang kalusugan ay hindi pribilehiyo kundi karapatan ng bawat Pilipino,” Senator Go added.
Senator Go pointed to Malasakit Centers as a concrete solution to this pressing issue. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.
“Kung may Malasakit Center sa ospital, malaking tulong ito sa mga pasyente. Hindi na nila kailangang magpaikot-ikot para humingi ng tulong,” he explained. “Nais ko pang mas marami pang Malasakit Centers ang maitatayo lalo na sa mga lugar na kulang ang access sa serbisyong medikal.”
Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
As of now, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The DOH reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 15 million Filipinos.
The same survey revealed that 56% of Filipinos identified controlling the rising prices of basic goods and services as the nation’s top concern. While this marked a 10-percentage-point decline from the third quarter, the issue remains critical. Access to affordable food, improved wages, reduced poverty, and the creation of jobs also ranked high on national concerns.
“Hindi natin maitatanggi na konektado ang kalusugan at ekonomiya,” said Go. “Kapag may sakit, hindi makakapagtrabaho. Kapag hindi makapagtrabaho, mas lalong lulubog sa hirap. Kaya dapat sabay-sabay nating tugunan ang mga isyung ito.”
The UHC Law, signed in 2019, mandates that all Filipinos be automatically enrolled in PhilHealth and be entitled to equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services. Senator Go stressed the need for its full implementation, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
To bridge gaps in service delivery, Senator Go has called on PhilHealth to accelerate reforms. These include increasing case rates, expanding benefits packages for the top 10 mortality diseases, providing free medicines and assistive devices such as eyeglasses and wheelchairs, and dental, visual, emergency, and preventive care. He also pushed for the updating of policies to meet the evolving needs of Filipinos.
Senator Go has pressed PhilHealth to accelerate its other reforms following the long-overdue scrapping of the Single Period of Confinement (SPC) policy late last year. While its removal was a significant step triggered by Go’s consistent appeals for reform, he has also brought to light the 24-hour confinement rule, which required patients to be hospitalized for at least a day to qualify for insurance coverage. PhilHealth officials have committed to revisiting and removing this rule.
“Pera po ito ng taumbayan, bawat piso ay pinagpaguran. Dapat po itong gamitin sa paraan na talagang makikinabang ang mga mamamayan,” Senator Go said, reaffirming his commitment to policies that lessen the financial burden on ordinary citizens.
As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Senator Go has consistently supported measures that address systemic healthcare challenges. He remains firm in his belief that no Filipino should have to choose between seeking medical help and securing their family’s daily needs.
“Hindi kailangang mamili ng Pilipino kung gagastusin ba ang pera sa pagkain o sa ospital,” he concluded. “Ang gusto natin, sa tulong ng Universal Health Care at Malasakit Centers na mga batas na, maibsan ang pangamba ng ating mga kababayan pagdating sa kalusugan dahil katumbas ito ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino.”
