QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11463)
The short title is the “Malasakit Centers Act.” It aims to establish Malasakit Centers in all DOH hospitals and in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to provide a one-stop shop for medical and financial assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients, including funds for their operation.
The State shall: (a) adopt a multi-sectoral and streamlined approach consistent with the Universal Health Care framework; (b) ensure patients experience compassion (“Malasakit”) and receive respect and dignity; and (c) provide medical and financial assistance through a one-stop shop.
It refers to hospitals under the management and administration of the Department of Health (DOH), including the four corporate hospitals under the Secretary of Health: Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
An indigent patient has no visible means of income or insufficient income for the family’s subsistence, assessed by DSWD/local government social worker/medical social worker. A financially incapacitated patient is not indigent but shows clear inability to pay for necessary treatment (e.g., catastrophic, life/limb-threatening illness requiring prolonged or expensive care), assessed and certified by the medical social worker.
It is a common site designated to receive and process requests for medical and financial assistance for indigent and financially incapacitated patients.
They must be established in all DOH hospitals and in the PGH. The Malasakit Program objectives include: (1) providing a policy framework for integrated people-centered health services geared toward responsiveness and client engagement; and (2) ensuring financial risk protection and alleviating the financial burden of eligible patients and families through integrated medical and financial assistance.
A Malasakit Program Office is established in the DOH by augmenting, reclassifying, and strengthening the existing Public Assistance Unit (PAU). It oversees Malasakit Center operations. DOH, with DBM, ensures adequate plantilla positions and staffing.
They must: (b) serve as a one-stop shop for medical and financial assistance; (b) provide patient navigation and referral health care provider networks; (c) give information on PhilHealth membership, coverage, and benefits; (d) document and utilize patient experience data via standardized forms; (e) provide capacity-building and performance evaluation for client interaction; and (f) provide critical health behavior information and conduct health promotion activities.
A special land/space is required in each Malasakit Center exclusively for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
While DOH hospitals and PGH must have Malasakit Centers, other facilities (LGUs, SUCs, DND, DILG including PNP, DOJ, and other public hospitals) may also establish Malasakit Centers if they meet standards: guaranteed operational funds, adoption of integrated people-centered services, and compliance with DOH requirements.
The incumbent Medical Director, Chief of Hospital, or Medical Center Chief is designated as Malasakit Centers Director. Responsibilities include ensuring proper space/furniture/equipment per DOH schematic plan; promoting harmony and coordination among participating agencies; and performing other necessary functions for the objectives. He/she oversees efficient operation.
The Malasakit Center Director assigns the Head of the Medical Social Work Office as Malasakit Center Operations Manager for day-to-day operations. Both the Director and Operations Manager receive no extra compensation.
Each Malasakit Center includes duly designated representatives from DOH, DSWD, PCSO, and PhilHealth. DOH/DSWD/PCSO process and approve medical and financial assistance requests, while PhilHealth assists patients in availing benefits and addresses PhilHealth concerns.
They facilitate: (a) DOH medical assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients based on need recommended by medical social worker and attending physician; (b) DSWD financial assistance under AICS guidelines; (c) PCSO medical assistance under its programs charged to its funds; and (d) other assistance programs from agencies, LGUs, NGOs, and private institutions/individuals.
No. The Act states nothing prohibits access or requesting medical and financial assistance directly from the listed agencies. Malasakit Centers mainly streamline and coordinate assistance requests, but it does not restrict direct applications.
DOH conducts monitoring and evaluation to assess responsiveness, including client satisfaction surveys using indicators such as reduced waiting time, percentage of indigent and financially incapacitated patients served, and percentage of complaints endorsed for action.
A public official who commits unethical/fraudulent acts or abuses authority may be suspended for 3 months without pay for the first offense and dismissed for the succeeding offense; misappropriating Malasakit Program funds (or consenting to misappropriation) can lead to a fine equivalent to triple the amount misappropriated per count plus suspension for 3 months without pay. For any person who commits fraud or misrepresentation as to indigency/financial incapacity, assistance becomes void and the person is liable to pay twice the assistance amount and face imprisonment of 6 months to not more than 2 years.
On or before the end of December each year (or upon request), DOH, DSWD, PCSO, and PhilHealth jointly submit a detailed implementation status report to the Office of the President, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, and the House of Representatives Committee on Health.