TUGUEGARAO CITY – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday reminded healthcare workers in hospitals to show their utmost compassion in dealing with indigent patients in need of their immediate assistance.
During his visit here, he urged them to admit patients and assist them in their medical expenses by introducing to them the mechanism of Malasakit Centers.
Secretary Andanar was here to engage with the youth leaders and the media in an effort to inform and provide them updates on the implementation of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Roadmap and other programs of the government.
He also accompanied Senate Chair on Health and Demography Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and other Cabinet members for a series of distribution of assistance to indigent families in the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, and visited Gov. Faustino N. Dy, Sr. Memorial Hospital (GFNDSMH) and the Cagayan Valley Medical Hospital.
“Let us show utmost compassion to our fellow Filipinos, especially those who are sick and are seeking assistance to ease their burden in medical expenses. Currently, there are 102 Malasakit Centers established across the country that can readily provide them with financial assistance to cover for their expenses,” Secretary Andanar said.
“We are in the service of uplifting the lives of Filipinos wherever they may be. That is the main pillar that supports why your national government is right here present on the ground to bring the programs and projects closer to everyone,” he added.
Senator Go reiterated the appeal to hospital executives not to refuse patients while reminding patients, who were beneficiaries of the financial assistance that day, to spend it wisely.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) rolled out their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program, distributing P3,000 to every patient in the two hospitals.
“Hindi naman po lalapit sa mga public hospitals at humihingi ng tulong kung may pambayad po ‘yan. So ‘yun lang po ang pakiusap ko sa ating mga medical directors, please lang po ‘wag niyo pong tanggihan at ‘wag niyo pong pabayaan ang pinakamahirap nating mga kababayan [These patients will not go to public hospitals and ask for help if they have money for their medical expenses. So that’s all I ask of our medical directors, please admit and take care of the poor patients],” Senator Go said.
“Alam po nating naghihirap po ngayon, at nasa pandemya po tayo. Gamitin po natin ‘yung pera sa wasto [We know a lot of people are suffering now because we are in a pandemic. Let’s use the money properly],” he added.
He vowed to separately give a one-time assistance to augment the fund for the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) Program for the medical institutions.
