Go pushes establishment of more super health centers

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SEN. Bong Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, vowed to push the establishment of more Super Health Centers (SHCs) nationwide to make health care services more accessible, especially in remote and underserved areas.

Go, who was a guest during the turnover ceremony for the newly completed SHC in Hermosa, Bataan, on Monday, April 28, reaffirmed his long-standing mission to improve health care accessibility for Filipinos, particularly in grassroots communities.

The senator, an adopted son of Hermosa town, highlighted the importance of bringing health care closer to the people, especially in expansive provinces like Bataan.

"We need more Super Health Centers for more access (to health care services). And it will help decongest the hospitals when towns have Super Health Centers, especially rural areas," he said.

"That's the PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) Consultation program. PhilHealth has a lot of money. You should use it for our poor countrymen," he added.

SHCs are designed to focus on primary care, consultation and early detection, further strengthening the country's health care sector, especially in grassroots communities.

Municipal health offices, local government units (LGUs) and PhilHealth, through its Konsulta program, provide free consultations.

Go explained that the Hermosa SHC is designed as a medium-type polyclinic that can provide essential medical services to the public.

"I'm happy after a few months of groundbreaking here, and it's over now with the inauguration," he said.

Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, and LGUs, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 SHCs nationwide.

Bataan has 13 SHCs funded across the province, including the newly inaugurated Hermosa SHC.

Meanwhile, Go urged individuals facing health challenges to utilize the services offered by the Malasakit Centers at Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga City and Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital.

Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops that aim to help impoverished patients reduce their hospital expenses as much as possible.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act (RA) 11463, the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.

Currently, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist patients with medical expenses.

The DOH reports that the Malasakit Center program has aided more than 17 million Filipinos.

Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which calls for the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.

Go then expressed gratitude to the health care workers and local officials who contributed to the project's successful completion.

"Let us remember, we only pass through this world once. Whatever good or help we can do for our fellow man, let us do it now because we will not return to this world," reminded Go, known as Mr. Malasakit.

On the same day, Senator Go rallied behind his fellow DuterTEN senatorial candidates during their motorcade in various towns of Bataan.