Photo of the Malasakit Center inside the new Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital which was inaugurated by President Rodrigo  Duterte in Sta. Cruz, Manila on May 4, 2022. Richard Madelo, Presidential Photo/File

MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday assured that there are funds for Malasakit Centers.

The said centers serve as a one-stop shop for the DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

According to the DSWD website, Malasakit Centers “provide medical and financial assistance to the indigent and financially incapacitated patients without their having to go out of the hospital to seek assistance from the said participating agencies.”

In a social media post, former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said Malasakit Centers have zero funds.

DOH Undersecretary Achilles Bravo countered this.

“May pera po ang DOH,” Bravo said on Wednesday after the groundbreaking ceremony of the outpatient services building of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City.

“May instruction si Secretary na kung sinong papasok, magpa-konsulta, magpa-admit sa government hospital, tutulungan namin lalo na kung indigent patient,” Bravo added.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography seconded DOH.

“It’s not true. It’s fake news,” Go said.

“Ang Malasakit Center ay one-stop shop. Wala po siyang sariling pondo. Batas po siya kung saan po andidiyan ang Philhealth, may pondo ang Philhealth. Andidiyan po ang DSWD, may pondo po ang DSWD na maaring tumulong. Andidiyan po ang PCSO may pondo rin po sila na maaaring tumulong at andidiyan po ang DOH. May pondo po sila,” Go explained.

NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rose Marie Liquete said there is no truth to the zero funds claim.

“Hindi ho yan totoo. At saka tuloy tuloy ang aming serbisyo dito ng aming Malasakit Center. Actually nga ineexpand na namin,” she said.