QUEZON CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains committed to providing better access to quality healthcare services and building more public health facilities across the country as two Super Health Centers held their groundbreaking in Barangays Cagniog and Luna in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte on Friday, November 11.

In his video message, Go, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, expressed his confidence that the government would be able to help more poor and indigent patients, particularly those in rural areas, with the establishment of more Super Health Centers nationwide.

“Layunin po ng mga centers na ito na mas ilapit pa sa ating mga kababayan ang mga serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno, lalo na sa mga nasa liblib na lugar at pinaka nangangailangan ng mga ito,” explained Go.

“Sa pamamagitan nito, hindi na nila kailangang pumunta sa mga malalaking ospital na kadalasan ay nasa mga syudad kung wala namang malalang sakit at magagamot naman sa pasilidad na mas malapit sa kanila,” he added.

Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Go, who successfully pushed for the funding of the Super Health Centers in the city, previously cited that the government will be able to construct 307 Super Health Centers nationwide from the nearly PhP3.6 billion allocated in the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

Moreover, he also supported the construction of other Super Health Centers in the province, including in San Benito, Del Carmen, Alegria, Claver, Dapa and General Luna. DOH plans to construct at least 320 more SHCs nationwide in 2023.

“Sabi ko nga, now is the time to really invest in our healthcare system. Umaasa ako na ito ang huling pandemya sa ating buhay pero ang totoo hindi natin alam kung kailan dadating ang susunod,” expressed Go.

“Talaga pong nabigla ang ating healthcare nung dumating ang pandemya kaya naman pursigido po talaga ako na palakasin pa po ito sa abot ng aking makakaya. Dapat po talaga palagi tayong one-step ahead,” he continued.

Meanwhile, medical assistance programs from the government are conveniently available through the Malasakit Center in the city located at the Caraga Regional Hospital and another in Siargao Island Medical Center in Dapa.

Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program after witnessing the struggles of financially incapacitated families in getting the medical services they need. In this regard, the program brings together all relevant agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under one roof to reduce the hospital expenses of particularly poor and indigent patients by covering various services and other fees.

Since it started in 2018, the program has now established 152 centers nationwide.

“Mga kababayan ko, hindi po biro ang magkasakit sa panahong ito lalo na po at naghihirap pa rin ang ating ekonomiya. Kaya po kung kayo ay may nararamdaman, huwag na po kayong mag-alinlangan pa at magpatingin na po kayo sa doktor. Marami pong Malasakit Center sa buong bansa na handa po kayong tulungan sa inyong mga bayaring medikal,” Go encouraged.

“Mga kababayan ko, magmalasakit at magbayanihan po tayo. Malalampasan po natin itong krisis na ito bilang nagkakaisang mamamayang Pilipino. Maraming salamat po sa inyong kooperasyon sa ating gobyerno,” said Go.

“Magtiwala ho kayo sa gobyerno. Ginagawa po natin ang lahat upang malampasan ang krisis na ito,” he ended. (OSBG)