Government agencies unite to improve services

CEBU, Philippines — A memorandum of agreement was entered into between Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino and the regional directors of various government agencies for the full implementation of “Malasakit Center” in six hospitals, four in Cebu and two in Bohol.

The center is a health-support initiative of President Rodrigo Duterte in the Visayas through the OPAV, which will be implemented before the end of the month.

 "These Malasakit Centers will greatly help especially indigent patients nga dili na sila ipasa-pasa og government agencies labi na on the financial aspect kay usa naman lang ang imong adtoon," said Dino.

Dino said he wanted these centers to be operational by December as a Christmas gift to the poor patients.

Dino said he plans to put up 50 to 60 Malasakit Centers next year in the entire Visayas.

For the meantime, Malasakit Centers will be piloted at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, Talisay District Hospital, and Eversley Hospital in Cebu and Gallares Hospital and Del Valle Hospital in Bohol.

DOH-7 Director Jaime Bernadas said the Malasakit Center will enhance their health services to the patients whether admitted or not.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop aimed to simplify the process of getting help from government agencies, especially financial assistance for poor constituents  confined in government hospitals without going to government agencies for processing the needed documents.

 The center will adopt a unified form to be filled up by the patients that will simplify the process and single interview per patient.

 "With this Malasakit Center, you will no longer see patient's relative weeping because of so much burden in paper works needed for admission, medical procedure, medication and discharge by going to different offices," said Dino.

Aside from DOH, the other partner agencies of OPAV in this program are PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Social Welfare and Development, among others. (FREEMAN)