Malasakit Centers now officially part of gov't hospitals

MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on Tuesday a measure that institutionalizes Malasakit Centers in all hospitals ran by the Department of Health.

Duterte inked Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Center Act during a ceremony in Malacañang.

A pet project of his former aide Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, Malasakit Centers serve as “one-stop shops” for indigent patients.

"The Malasakit Centers shall be non-partisan, convenient, free of charge, accessible, and shall have a standard system of availment of assistance," the law stated.

Under the new law, each Malasakit Center should have representatives from the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Such representatives shall process and approve the requests for medical and financial assistance of indigent patients.

Hospital heads shall serve as directors of the Malasakit Centers and are tasked to ensure its proper management and efficient operation, the law stated.