People’s health is top priority — Go

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The health of the people is one of the top priorities of the Duterte administration, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said over the weekend.

Go led the launching of the Malasakit center at the Salvacion Oppus-Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital in Maasin City, Southern Leyte on Saturday.

“This is your money, the government is just giving it back to you,” he said.

Go proceeded to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City where he opened another center.

He said ambulance services would be provided for patients in Negros Oriental for free.

The center is a one-stop-shop where patients, especially the poor, could avail themselves of the services of government agencies such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Patients need not be passed around from one office to another,” Go said.

He said more centers would be opened in the provinces to make medical assistance accessible to the public.

The government has allocated P5 million for the centers.

“Once the funds run out, it will be replenished upon liquidation by the hospital,” Go said.         

The government also provides free Malasakit health cards to the elderly and persons with disability.

According to Go, all Filipinos are qualified to avail themselves of medical assistance from any Malasakit center.

Aside from Dumaguete and Maasin City, Malasakit centers were also put up at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Cebu, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod and Puerto Princesa.