The Malasakit Center is a government project designed to simplify the process of accessing financial and medical assistance for indigent Filipinos. It serves as a one-stop shop where patients can obtain support from multiple government agencies, reducing the need to visit different offices for help with healthcare costs.
Its main purpose is to offer the Malasakit Program and assist with the financial burden of hospitalization, treatments, and other medical expenses for financially struggling patients. By streamlining assistance from various government agencies including the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the center ensures that those in need receive comprehensive support without delays or complications.
What is a Malasakit Center?
The Filipino term malasakit translates to “compassion” or “concern for others,” embodying the spirit of empathy in providing care which is the primary mandate of the Malasakit Center. These centers reflect this value by serving as a one-stop service hub where indigent and financially incapacitated Filipinos can access medical and financial assistance. It streamlines the process of seeking help from multiple government agencies, ensuring a single trip for faster, more efficient support for healthcare needs.
The Malasakit Program was established under the Malasakit Centers Act (Republic Act No. 11463), which mandates the creation of these centers in government hospitals nationwide. The law aims to improve access to healthcare by offering free medical assistance and reducing out-of-pocket expenses for poor patients.
Financial assistance is usually given in the form of guarantee letters, though outright cash may also be provided to help facilitate hospital bill reductions, medicines, diagnostic tests, and even transportation, with the goal of providing cash aid to families and ensuring health services are accessible to all. In some cases, the cash assistance is given to supplement its other support services, especially for those in crisis situations.
Logo
The Malasakit Center logo is designed to embody the core values and mission of the initiative, which focuses on providing compassionate care and support to indigent Filipinos. The logo prominently features a heart, symbolizing compassion and care, and uses vibrant red color to represent trust.
The words “Malasakit Center” are typically included in a clear, readable font, emphasizing the initiative’s accessibility, while the term “malasakit,” which translates to “compassion” in Filipino, is a reminder of the center’s purpose to provide empathetic assistance to the community.
The logo reflects the collaborative nature of the Malasakit Centers, which work alongside multiple government agencies to streamline access to healthcare and financial assistance, and signifies the empowerment of marginalized individuals, encouraging them to seek the help they need without fear or hesitation.
Brief History
The Malasakit Center was first established in February 2018 as a one-stop-shop for medical and financial assistance to indigent Filipinos. It was initiated by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, aiming to streamline access to healthcare services. Before its establishment, financially struggling patients had to navigate complex procedures and visit multiple government offices just to reduce their medical expenses.
Today, the one-stop-shop service provided by Malasakit Centers, brings together government agencies under one roof to simplify medical aid processes. The Malasakit Centers Act (Republic Act No. 11463), passed in 2019, further institutionalized these centers across the country. Through these centers, patients receive financial assistance covering hospital bills, medicines, diagnostic tests, and transportation, with no out-of-pocket expenses for qualified beneficiaries.
Functions and Mandates
The Malasakit Center serves as a hub for medical and financial assistance, simplifying the process for Filipinos in need of healthcare support. It was established to streamline access to multiple government agencies, ensuring that marginalized individuals receive timely, free, or subsidized medical care.
- One-stop shop for assistance: Provides a centralized location where patients can access financial aid from various government agencies, including PhilHealth, PCSO, and DSWD.
- Zero-balance billing: Ensures that qualified indigent patients leave the hospital without paying any balance on their bills.
- Streamlined processes: Reduces the complexity of seeking medical assistance by consolidating services in one location.
- Priority lanes for seniors and PWDs: Offers dedicated lanes to ensure faster and more convenient service for these groups.
- Health promotion and education: Facilitates campaigns to raise awareness of health issues and preventive measures.
Organizational Structure
The Malasakit Center is headed by the Director, typically the Medical Director or Chief of Hospital, who is responsible for managing the center’s operations. They must ensure that the center is properly equipped according to DOH guidelines, foster collaboration among participating agencies, and oversee the achievement of the Malasakit Program’s goals.
The Director designates the Head of the Medical Social Work Office (MSWO) as the Malasakit Center Operations Manager (OM), who handles daily operations. Each center is staffed by medical social workers and support staff, with representatives from DOH, DSWD, PCSO, and PhilHealth, who process requests and assist with benefits. The involved agencies are tasked with creating the necessary staffing structures and budgeting for personnel costs in coordination with the DBM and other relevant commissions.
Benefits
It generally offers the following benefits along as well:
- Ease of access – Patients no longer need to travel between agencies to seek medical assistance.
- Reduced financial burden – Helps eliminate out-of-pocket costs, particularly for indigent patients.
- Faster service delivery – Ensures quicker processing of medical and financial assistance requests.
Coverage
The Malasakit Center provides comprehensive medical and financial assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated Filipinos who require hospital services. Through partnerships with various government agencies, the center aims to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for patients seeking medical care in public hospitals. This ensures that vulnerable sectors of society can access healthcare without the hassle of overwhelming costs.
- Indigent Patients: Individuals identified as financially incapable of covering medical expenses based on an assessment conducted by the hospital’s social worker.
- Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities ago(PWDs): Priority access and dedicated lanes are available to these groups for streamlined services.
- Low-income Families: Families who fall below the poverty threshold and are unable to afford medical treatments.
- Emergency and Critical Cases: Individuals facing life-threatening situations that require immediate medical attention but lack sufficient funds.
Agencies Participating in Malasakit Centers
Malasakit Centers bring together key government agencies to provide comprehensive medical and financial assistance to indigent patients. These agencies work collaboratively to ensure streamlined support for healthcare needs without requiring multiple trips to different offices.
- DOH: Provides medical assistance and oversees the implementation of health-related programs within Malasakit Centers, based on their need as recommended by the medical social worker and attending physician.
- PhilHealth: Offers healthcare coverage, enabling eligible patients to avail of benefits under the National Health Insurance Program to reduce the cost of medical treatments and hospitalizations.
- DSWD: Delivers financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, covering various medical expenses and a variety of other support options.
- PCSO: Grants medical aid for the cost of medicines, procedures, and other healthcare services including but not limited to hospitalization, diagnostics, and medical procedures, charged to its charity funds.
- PAGCOR: Provides additional financial support to augment resources for indigent patients in need of medical services.
Types of Financial Assistance Offered at Malasakit Centers
Malasakit Centers provide various forms of financial assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated Filipinos to help cover their medical expenses. Here are the main types of assistance offered:
1. Medical Assistance
Coverage: Hospitalization expenses, medical procedures, treatments (implants), laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging, postpartum care, and assistive devices.
Purpose: Ensures patients receive necessary medical care without bearing the full financial challenges. The assistance is based on the patient’s medical needs as assessed by professionals.
2. Transportation Assistance
Coverage: Expenses related to travel for medical interventions, attending to sick family members, or participating in disaster relief. It can also cover the cost of returning to one’s home province.
Purpose: Helps patients and their families cover the cost of transportation when dealing with health emergencies or returning home after medical treatment.
3. Burial Assistance
Coverage: Funeral services, interment, cremation, and transport of the deceased’s remains to their hometown or residence.
Purpose: Provides financial support for families facing the cost of burial services, especially for those belonging to Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Moros with specific burial customs.
4. Food Subsidy
Coverage: Nutritional assistance in the form of food or cash to meet the dietary needs of beneficiaries.
Purpose: Ensures that indigent patients and their families have access to proper nutrition during times of medical need, helping supplement other forms of assistance.
5. Other Cash Assistance
Coverage: Outright cash grants to individuals or families in crisis or facing difficult circumstances.
Purpose: Provides immediate financial relief to those in urgent need due to emergencies or hardships beyond medical concerns.
6. Psychosocial Assistance
Coverage: Psychological, social, and emotional support aimed at helping beneficiaries cope with stress and behavioral challenges arising from crises[1].
Purpose: Reduces the psychological impact of financial and medical crises on patients and their families, promoting emotional recovery through counseling and behavioral interventions.
The specific benefits, cash assistance amounts, and other terms may vary depending on the patient’s eligibility and the guidelines set by the participating government agencies (DOH, DSWD, PhilHealth, PCSO, and PAGCOR).
How to Avail Malasakit Center Financial Assistance
To avail of financial and medical assistance through Malasakit Centers, patients must first be assessed by a medical social worker. The assessment will determine the patient’s eligibility for support and outline the specific type of assistance available. Once eligibility is confirmed, the Malasakit Center staff will coordinate with relevant agencies to process the necessary documents.
Eligibility Criteria
Malasakit Center assistance is available to indigent and financially incapacitated Filipinos, including:
- Individuals identified as financially incapable of covering medical expenses based on an assessment conducted by the hospital’s social worker
- Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs)
- Low-income families falling below the poverty threshold
- Individuals facing life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate medical attention but lacking sufficient funds
General Requirements
To apply for Malasakit Center assistance, patients must provide the following:
- Valid ID
- Proof of income or indigency status
- Medical records and referral from attending physician
- Completed application forms
General Procedures
The general process for availing Malasakit Center assistance involves:
Step 1. Assessment by medical social worker to determine eligibility and type of assistance needed
Step 2. Submission of required documents by the patient or their representative
Step 3. Coordination by Malasakit Center staff with relevant agencies (DOH, DSWD, PhilHealth, PCSO, PAGCOR) to process the application
Step 4. Approval and release of approved assistance, such as guarantee letters or cash grants
Step 5. Monitoring and evaluation of the assistance provided
Malasakit Center Operating Hours
Malasakit Centers are open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with no noon breaks. This schedule ensures that patients have ample time to seek assistance without delays, except on holidays.
Note: Do take note that while the Malasakit Center desks are spread in different areas nationwide, it does have a standard system for availment of assistance. Not only tht, though the centers also offer outright cash assistance, most of the support offered by the Malasakit Center comes in the form of guarantee letters to be used (generally) in the same public hospital where it was applied for. In rare cases, the center signs a Memorandum of Agreement with a private institution in an attempt to offer support in cases when services required are not available in the public hospital.
Video: What is a Malasakit Center?
Learn about what a Malasakit Center is, as well as the programs and services it offers to the Filipino people by watching this video posted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA):
Summary
The Malasakit Center is a lifeline for many indigent Filipinos, offering a wide range of medical and financial assistance programs that helps reduce or ease healthcare costs. With the collaboration of multiple government agencies, the center ensures that patients can access critical support without the hassle of visiting multiple offices. Through medical, transportation, burial, food, and psychosocial assistance, over 150 Malasakit Centers nationwide strive to provide comprehensive care and relief to those in need.
Contact Information
For inquiries or concerns regarding the services offered by the Malasakit Centers, you may reach out to:
Office of the Special Assistant to the President
Office Address: Senate of the Philippines, Room 507, 5th Floor, GSIS Building, Jose Diokno Blvd., Financial Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila, 1300
Telephone Numbers: 8552-6601 loc. 5580 (main number) and 5316 (admin), 8286-7045 loc. 5318 (receiving)
Email address: senbgconcerns@gmail.com