154th Malasakit Center launched in Camiguin

MANILA, Philippines — The Malasakit Centers program has reached another milestone with the launch of the 154th center at the Camiguin General Hospital in Mambajao town on Wednesday.

It is the first Malasakit Center in Camiguin, eighth in Northern Mindanao and 38th in the entire Mindanao.

Under Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act, all hospitals administered and managed by the Department of Health (DOH), including the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, are mandated to have their own Malasakit Center.

These centers provide convenient access to medical programs offered by concerned agencies such as the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The first Malasakit Center was launched at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City in February 2018.

The DOH said more than 1.4 million patients received government assistance worth P14.6 billion through the Malasakit Centers program as of last year alone.

After the launch, Go and his team distributed meals, food packs, vitamins and face masks to 315 healthcare workers and 231 patients. The patients and 90 hospital employees received financial assistance from the DSWD.

Go also distributed bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, watches and balls for basketball and volleyball to select individuals.