DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Oct. 13 (PIA) -- The Malasakit Center based in Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH) has served 11,497 indigent patients with medical assistance amounting to over P50 million in the past three years.

The growing number of poor patients seeking medical help not only from Negros Oriental but from neighboring provinces of Siquijor, southern Cebu, and part of Negros Occidental show the magnitude of the Malasakit Center program.

Common requests for assistance involve dialysis, surgery, deliveries, accidents, medicines for COVID-19, among others.

Registered Social Worker Flora Amor, who manages the center, said the Malasakit aims to have a zero balance of the patient’s hospital bills.

“Wala na silay bayran kay naa man sab diri ang ubang agencies to process sa ubang medical aid (They don’t have to pay for anything because some agencies are here to process other medical aid)," she said. 

Amor said most of the patient-beneficiaries were senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), vendors, tricycle drivers, farmers, fishermen, and other indigent individuals who cannot afford to pay their hospital bills.

Amor said amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis, the center is taking the necessary steps to continue providing medical assistance to the increasing number of indigents seeking help from Malasakit.

Maria Reynalin Vergaño, 39 of Boloc-Boloc, Sibulan, recalled that her husband, 51, a security guard, was infected with COVID-19.

He had an easy time seeking assistance from the center when they sought help after he was confined for two weeks at NOPH.

Aside from her husband, Maria and her elderly parents also contracted COVID-19 at the same period.

Unfortunately, after three days her mother, Yolanda Alibangco, 79, died in their house.

“Wala na jud mi kwarta, sakit kaayo ang nahitabo (We don’t have money, it’s so painful what happened,)" said Maria.

But she said that despite all the struggles, “dako nakong pasalamat na natabangan akong bana sa Malasakit kay zero balance among dakong bayranan sa hospital (I am very much thankful for the Malasakit that my husband has benefitted because our hospital bill was zero balance)." 

Rossel Sedigo, 42, of Bantayan, Dumaguete City also recollected how her husband, Mario Paul Sedigo, 62, has been undergoing kidney dialysis since 2013 until the Malasakit established in 2018 here and helped them in their growing medical expenses.

“Sa pagsugod sa Malasakit Center ni Sen. Go dinhi mi avail dayon mi kay kapin sa lima ka tuig baya mi gaantus sa bayranan sa dialysis sa ako bana (From the start of the Malasakit Center here, we availed without delay as we were already burdened with the expenses involved in the dialysis of my husband for five years,)" Rossel said.

Paul underwent dialysis for nine sessions monthly, which cost P3,000 per session excluding the laboratory expenses, dialyser machine, medicines among others, “but with the Malasakit, we have not paid anything,” said Rossel.

“Dako kaayo among pasalamat sa Malasakit Center, dakong tabang sa mga pobreng nakapahimulus niini, ug kalipay sa mga pasyente kay bisag admitted ka wala jud kay mabayaran (We are very grateful for this Malasakit Center, it is a big help to the poor people who have benefited from it, and patients who are admitted in the hospital don't get to pay anything)," Rossel shared.

Before her husband’s death on July 9, Rossel said Paul received financial support personally from Sen. Christopher Go in the amount of P10,000 for his maintenance medicines.

A group of kidney patients at NOPH are also thankful to Malasakit for providing dialysis machines. 

Under the Malasakit program, low-income patients are assisted in availing medical services and financial assistance also offered by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office,  Department of Health, PhilHealth, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.  (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)