In his speech, Go cited that more Super Health Centers are planned to be established in strategic areas in the country to ensure that more Filipinos, particularly those in rural areas, would not need to travel far to get the basic health services they need.
Go likewise reassured that he is in coordination with the local officials of Davao del Norte to ensure that the establishment of another Super Health Center in the province, this time in Panabo City, will push through.
“As Committee Chair on Health, tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya kung paano pa ang pag-improve ng inyong Super Health Center. Sa tulong ng inyong Congressman (Alan Dujali) sa Davao del Norte sa IGACOS, maglalagay ng Super Health Center, at sa Panabo City rin… Magtutulungan kami n’yan sa Kongreso,” said Go.
“Akin lang ipapaliwanag sa inyo itong Super Health Center, maliit lang itong building. ‘Yung manganganak, pwede nang manganak dito, birthing facilities, dental, laboratory pwede na. Alam n’yo ba, kawawa ‘yung mga malalayong lugar na walang health center. ‘Yung iba, nanganganak na lang sa tricycle, sa taxi dahil malalayo sa ospital,” he cited.
Services offered in Super Health Centers will 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 was instrumental in pushing for adequate funding for the construction of the Super Health Centers. The senator previously stated that with the budget allocated in the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program, the government will be able to build 307 Super Health Centers across the country this year. He is pushing that additional funding will be included in the 2023 health budget so that the government can build more especially in other grassroots communities.
“Bilang Committee chair on Health n’yo naman po sa Senado, full support po ako. Advocacy ko talaga health. Aside from Super Health Center, palakasin ang ating health care system dahil hindi natin alam kung ito na lang ba ang pandemyang darating sa buhay natin," he said.
On the other hand, the senator likewise reassured that medical assistance programs are more accessible through the nearby Malasakit Centers at Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City or at Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
Go shared that the idea of the Malasakit Centers program began when he personally witnessed the struggles of disadvantaged families to get the medical services they need. The program was later institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored.
The Malasakit Center 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 services and other fees.
“Kung mayroon kayong pasyente na nangangailangan ng tulong, mayroon na tayong 153 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong sa inyo. Kay Mayor (Al David Uy), Governor (Edwin Jubahib), at congressman, kung mayroon kayong pasyente na kailangan ng tulong (tulad ng) operasyon sa puso ‘wag n’yo ng patagalin. Ipa-check na kaaagad, dalhin n’yo sa Davao dahil mayroong Heart Center doon. (Tutulong kami sa) bayarin sa ospital pati pamasahe at sa operasyon… kami na ang tutulong sa inyo,” Go offered.
“Basta tutulong ako sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Magkapitbahay lang tayo taga-Davao lang ako, palagi ako dito sa Samal. Ganyan ko kayo kamahal dito sa Samal,” he reassured.
Aside from the groundbreaking, Go and his team provided assistance to indigents, composed of transport workers and tour guides, in the city on the same day. (PR)
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