Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is actively advocating for enhanced healthcare services throughout the Philippines, with a particular focus on making medical assistance more accessible and affordable, especially in provincial areas.
As the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Go highlighted the advancements in Western Visayas, which include the establishment of Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers, and Regional Specialty Centers.
Go emphasized the need for accessible healthcare, stating, “We don’t want any Filipino to die without having consulted a doctor or received proper treatment just because they cannot afford it. Healthcare should be easy to access and affordable.”
Western Visayas currently hosts nine Malasakit Centers, which are designed to provide financial and medical support to indigent patients in public hospitals. These centers function as one-stop shops where various government agencies collaborate to streamline the distribution of aid.
Some of the hospitals with Malasakit Centers in the region include Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Roxas City, and several others across the region. The primary goal of these centers is to minimize hospital expenses for impoverished patients.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the program. Currently, there are 167 operational Malasakit Centers nationwide, which have collectively assisted over 17 million Filipinos by alleviating the financial burden of healthcare costs.
In addition to Malasakit Centers, Senator Go has been instrumental in promoting the establishment of Super Health Centers in Western Visayas. These centers serve as intermediate healthcare facilities, intended to reduce congestion in major hospitals by providing primary care services, consultations, and minor medical procedures. The region saw an increase from 24 Super Health Centers in 2022 to 48 in 2023, with 13 more planned for completion.
Building on these efforts, Go has also championed the establishment of Super Health Centers in Western Visayas. These facilities serve as intermediate healthcare hubs, designed to decongest major hospitals by handling primary care services, consultations, and minor medical procedures.
From 24 Super Health Centers in 2022, the region saw 48 more completed in 2023, with an additional 13 slated for completion in 2024. These centers bridge the gap between barangay health stations and large public hospitals, ensuring that medical assistance is more readily available at the community level.
Super Health Centers are designed to focus on primary care, consultation, and early detection, further strengthening the country’s healthcare sector, especially in grassroots communities. Free consultations at these centers would be handled by municipal health offices, local government units, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through its Konsulta program.
“Hindi lahat ng Pilipino ay kayang bumiyahe papuntang malalaking ospital. Kaya dapat, ang serbisyong medikal ay inilalapit mismo sa tao. ‘Yan ang layunin ng Super Health Centers—para may mas malapit at maaasahang pasilidad para sa pangangailangang medikal ng bawat pamilya,” Go stressed.
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for the establishment of more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.
The senator likewise championed the development of Regional Specialty Centers in key hospitals across Western Visayas, aligning with his vision to equip regional healthcare facilities with advanced treatment capabilities. These centers will reduce the need for patients to travel to Metro Manila for specialized medical care.
The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City will house Regional Specialty Centers for renal care and transplant services, brain and spine care, neonatal care, burn care, and geriatric care—aiming to improve survival rates and treatment outcomes for complex medical conditions.
Meanwhile, the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo is slated to host several Regional Specialty Centers by 2025, including those focused on cardiovascular care, lung care, orthopedic treatment, trauma care, and cancer care.
