THE Department of Health (DOH) inaugurated the 165th Malasakit Center (MC) established at the Conrado F. Estrella Regional Trauma and Medical Center (CFERTMC), one of the hospitals under the DOH – Ilocos Region located in Rosales, Pangasinan on May 10, 2024.
It is the second Malasakit Center in the province of Pangasinan, and Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City has the other which opened on February 26, 2019.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said that with the Malasakit Center at the forefront of providing medical assistance at CFERTMC, more patients can access quality medical care services without having to worry about financial costs.
“Ito na ang tutulong sa ating mga pasyente upang maibigay at mabayaran and kanilang mga hospital bills. Kailangan lang nilang pumunta at ibigay ang mga kinakailangang dokumento upang sila ay mabigyan ng assistance,” she stated.
Sydiongco also disclosed that the regional office is also working on the establishment of a Malasakit Center at the Ilocos Sur Medical Center to cater to the residents of Ilocos Sur.
On July 11, 2023, the DOH issued Department Memorandum 2023-0235, a Reiteration of the Continuous Implementation of the Malasakit Program and Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients Program in all Established Malasakit Centers which requires Malasakit Centers to provide all patients with the necessary medical services they need.
There are now a total of six MCs in Ilocos region.
The other Malasakit Centers are located at Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union; Mariano Marcos Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte; Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; and at the Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital Gabriela Silang in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
CFERTMC Medical Center Chief Dr. Emerson B. Patawaran said that the center is an essential complement to the services that the medical center provides. “Malaking tulong po ito sa ating mga pasyente na may malaking suliraning pinansyal dahil guarantee letter lang po ang kailangan upang mabayaran nila ang kanilang hospital bill at mas marami pa po tayong pasyenteng matutulungan ngayon at mayroon na tayong Malasakit Center.”
Among the distinguished guests who attended the inauguration were Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go, Department of Agriculture Secretary Conrado Estrella III, DOH Malasakit Center Program Director Luz Jordana Jose, DOH – Ilocos Region OIC of Local Health Systems Division Dr. Rosario P. Pamintuan, Regional Malasakit Program Coordinator Gudelia M. Te, Pangasinan PDOHO Dr. Veron De Guzman, and various local government unit officials of eastern Pangasinan.
About the Author
