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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Dli r 
iljc K 't'ir ■ tni7>
SENATE
S. B. No. 
199
■19 
JUL-2 P3.19
RECt.' 
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
IN STITU TIO N ALIZIN G  
MALASAKIT 
CENTERS 
TO 
COMPLEMENT 
THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT" BY REQUIRING PHILHEALTH TO 
ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND M AINTAIN MALASAKIT CENTERS IN  ALL DOH, 
LGU, s u e  and DND HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTRY, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is an archipelagic state, and we recognize that healthcare 
should be accessible for all, regardless of their distance from the National Capital 
Region. However, today, it is not uncommon for an indigent patient or his/her relative 
to knock on the doors of various government agencies to avail of financial assistance 
to cover medical expenses. We are aware of the long lines of patients desperately 
requesting for a guarantee letter from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 
(PCSO). Still, these do not include indigent Filipinos who do not have the financial 
means to travel and personally request for medical assistance.
In 2018, a one-stop shop dubbed as "Malasakit Center" was launched by the 
government in the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City. Seen 
to effectively ease the process of availing government services for patients, more 
Masakit Centers were established. By the first half of 2019, there were about 34 
Malasakit Centers all over the country.


Currently, the Malasakit Centers houses desk representatives from the 
Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) and Philippine Charity 
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11223 or the "Universal Health Care 
Act", every Filipino citizen is automatically included in the National Health Insurance 
Program. Even in anticipation of how UHC will bring about a dramatic change in how 
patients can more freely access individual health care through secured health 
financing through PhilHealth and more effective and efficient implementation of public 
health programs by the DOH for population-based services for the community, the 
challenge remains in how we can close the gap between indigent, marginalized 
families and those who can afford availing of basic and specialty medical services in 
both the outpatient clinics and the hospital in-patient setting.
The benefits under the Universal Health Care (UHC) rely on health benefits 
package as determined by the Philhealth. As such, out-of-pocket expenditures may 
still arise if the benefit packages are not enough to cover the medical needs of indigent 
and poor patients. In 2017, despite the safety nets of Philhealth, out-of-pocket 
payment accounted for 55% of health expenditures, according to the Philippine 
Statistics Authority.
This proposed measure intends to reduce, if not eliminate, out-of-pocket 
expenditures of indigent and poor patients including non-medical expenses like 
transportation costs. Malasakit Centers will also be a Health System Enabler to improve 
assessment for patient assistance and referral to provide much needed system 
support for patient navigation.
This bill seeks to establish, maintain and operate Malasakit Centers in all DOH, 
LGU, DND and SUC hospitals in the country which will house desk representatives 
from the Philhealth, DOH and DSWD. The Philhealth representative shall be in charge 
of assisting and processing the concerns of both direct and indirect contributors to 
Philhealth regarding the implementation of Republic Act No. 11223 or the "Universal


Health Care Act" which may include concerns on coverage, billing, health benefits 
packages, among others. The DOH representative shall be in charge of providing 
medical assistance, while the DSWD representative will be providing financial or direct 
assistance. This way we can deliver basic services to communities in the most efficient, 
responsive and sustainable manner.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOP
LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
V of tlx iS-iMTtarp
SENATE
S. B. No. 
199
*19 JUL-2 P3 ;19
RECL
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
IN STITU TIO N ALIZIN G  
MALASAKIT 
CENTERS 
TO 
COMPLEMENT 
THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT" BY REQUIRING PHILHEALTH TO 
ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND M AINTAIN MALASAKIT CENTERS IN  ALL DOH, 
LGU, s u e  and DND HOSPITALS IN  THE COUNTRY, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Malasakit Centers 
Act of 2019."
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policies. - It is the declared policy of the State to 
improve the delivery of health care services to the people, and to ensure financial 
assistance for hospital and medical expenses are available and accessible to the 
people.
SEC. 3. Definition o f Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall mean:
(a) DOH Hospital refers to a refers to a hospital under the management and 
administration of the Department of Health (DOH), Including the four (4) 
corporate hospitals under the Secretary of Health, namely: Philippine Heart 
Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute 
and the Philippine Children's Medical Center;
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(b)DND Hospital refers to a hospital managed by the Department of National
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Defense;
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(c) Financial Assistance or Material Assistance refers to actual cash or check which
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covers burial, transportation, and other allied assistance given by agencies as
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mandated by existing laws, rules and regulations to provide such assistance;
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(d) Indigent Patient refers to patient who has no visible means of income, or whose
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income is insufficient for the subsistence of his/her family, as identified by the
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), LGU social worker or
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the medical social worker of the health facility;
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(e) Local Government Unit (LGU) Hospital refers to a hospital managed by the local
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government units, usually the provincial government;
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(f) Malasakit Center refers to a processing center for Philhealth and one-stop shop
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for Filipinos in need of medical assistance;
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(g) Medical Assistance refers to assistance for out-of-pocket expenditure in form of
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coupon, stub, guaranty letter, promissory note or voucher that has monetary
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value, given directly to individual recipients or beneficiaries to address their
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immediate needs;
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(h) Out-of-pocket expenditure refers to medical and surgical services not currently
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paid for or sufficiently reimbursed by PhilHealth under Republic Act No. 11223
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or the Universal Health Care Act, or other financing sources;
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(i) Poor Patient refers to those not classified as indigent but are otherwise
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considered poor or with financial difficulty to access adequate medical care
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and/or pay hospital bills because of certain unavoidable circumstance, such as
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but not limited to:
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1. Senior citizens, persons with disability (PWD), orphans, abused women and
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children as defined by RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and
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Their Children Act of 2004 and RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children
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Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act;
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2. Patients with catastrophic illness or any illness as a primary condition that
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is life or limb-threatening and requires prolonged hospitalization, extremely
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expensive therapies or other special but essential care that would deplete
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one's financial resources, unless covered by special health funding policies;


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3. Unemployed or without gainful employment;
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4. Suspected or confirmed victims of torture as defined by Republic Act
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No.9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of2009;'
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5. Soldiers and police rendered disabled to be gainfully employed and their
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dependents and dependents of soldiers and police killed in action;
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6. Rebel returnees, prisoners of war and their dependents;
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7. Victims of calamities or disasters such as but not limited to typhoons,
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earthquake, whose place of residence are officially under a state of
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emergency or calamity; and
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(j) s u e  Hospital refQrs to hospitals managed by State Universities and Colleges.
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SEC. 4. Malasakit Centers. -  To complement the implementation of Republic
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Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act, there shall be
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established a Malasakit Center in each DOH, LGU, DND and SUC hospital in the country
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which shall serve as (a) processing center for all Philhealth concerns regarding
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coverage, billing, health benefits packages, patient navigation and referral to the
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health care provider network, and (b) one-stop shop medical assistance to cover out-
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of-pocket medical expenses of indigent and poor patients.
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The Philhealth shall administer and manage the Malasakit Centers in close
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coordination with the DOH and DSWD. Each Malasakit Center shall consist of duly
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designated representatives from the Philhealth, DOH and DSWD with the following
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delegation of functions:
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1. The Philhealth representative shall be in charge of the over-all operation of
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the Malasakit Center. He/she shall assist and process the concerns 
of both
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direct and indirect contributors to Philhealth regarding the implementation
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of Republic Act No. 11223, including but not limited to coverage, billing,
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health benefits packages, financial concerns. The Philhealth representative
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shall also assist in patient navigation and referral to the health care provider
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network;
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2. The DOH representative shall be in charge of providing medical assistance
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to indigent and poor patients; and
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3. The DSWD representative shall be in charge of providing financial or direct


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assistance to indigent and poor patients.
SEC 5. Provision o f Medical Assistance. -T h e  DOH shall provide medical 
assistance to indigent and poor patients through the Malasakit Center which shall be 
charged from the annual appropriation of the DOH for assistance to indigent patients. 
The DOH may also augment medical assistance using the following sources:
a) Other appropriations earmarked by national government agencies and local 
government units purposely for medical assistance to indigent and poor 
patients: Provided, That appropriations earmarked for a specific hospital shall 
only be used for that specific hospital; and
b) Donations and grants-in-aid: Provided, That donations and grants donated 
for a specific hospital shall only be used for that specific hospital: Provided 
further. That the donations ang grants shall only be used for the purpose 
specified by the donor.
The DOH shall issue guidelines for the proper implementation of the medical 
assistance to indigent and poor patients which shall include order of charging from 
the aforementioned sources of financing, availment procedures, transfer and release 
of funds, recording and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships with private 
hospitals, among others.
The DOH shall make a quarterly report to the Office of the President and 
Congress regarding the expenditures or disbursement of the medical assistance to 
indigent and poor patients.
SEC 6. Medical Assistance. - The Medical Assistance shall cover for 
medical and surgical services not currently paid for or sufficiently reimbursed by 
PhilHealth in accordance with Republic Act No. 11223 or other financing sources, and 
shall be used for the following drugs, medicines, goods and other services prescribed 
by the physician of the health facility such as but not limited to:
a. Laboratory, imaging and all other diagnostic procedures;
b. Drugs and medicines included in the Philippine National Drug Formulary


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(exemptions to be cleared by Pharmaceutical Division);
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Supplies, orthopedic/assistive devices, prosthesis, blood and blood products;
d. Dental services, except those that are for aesthetic purpose and not medically 
indicated;
e. All clinically indicated medical and surgical procedures, whether emergency 
or elective;
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Prescribed post-hospitalization rehabilitation services, aftercare program, 
appropriate mental and psychological support, including those done on an 
outpatient basis;
g. In case of non-availability of clinically indicated drugs, medicines, tests, 
services or procedures in government health facilities, the concerned 
government health facility may enter into contract with DOH-accredited 
private health facility to provide the needed drug, test, service or procedure 
to the patient, charged against the DOH hospital;
h. All hospital bills including professional fees, provided that the expenses for 
professional fees shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the approved 
assistance; and
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All other medical, health, documentary and related services billed by the 
hospital.
Provided, That medical assistance to patients shall be based on need as 
recommended by the medical social worker attending physician, approved by the Chief 
of Hospital/Medical Center Chief of the institution involved and DOH authorized 
officials, subject to availability of funds.
SEC. 7. Provision o f Financial Assistance. -  The DSWD shall provide 
financial assistance through the Malasakit Center to indigent and poor patients, 
individuals in emergency situations, under distress or are in need of supplemental 
financial support due to health or medical conditions, sickness or disease; funeral and 
burial concerns, which also includes the most direct and economical transportation 
expense to or from place of residence or specific destination.
The provision of financial assistance through Malasakit Centers shall be charged 
to the annual appropriation of the DSWD for assistance to individuals and families in


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difficult circumstances. The DSWD shall issue policies and guidelines on the release of 
such assistance for the proper implementation of the program.
SEC. 8. Establishment o f Maiasakit Centers. - The Philhealth and DOH 
shall, in the establishment of the Maiasakit Centers, undertake consultations with all 
DOH, LGU, DND and SUC hospitals; Provided, That in the establishment of the 
Maiasakit Centers, highest priority shall be given to those economically-depressed 
areas or provinces.
Within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, the Philhealth and DOH 
shall establish Maiasakit Centers down to the Primary and Secondary Care level to 
help facilitate the adoption of appropriate health seeking behaviors, assist primary 
care providers in encouraging medical consultation at the health centers, monitor 
patient compliance, and ensure proper patient referral and availment of benefits.
Private hospitals are hereby encouraged to establish Maiasakit Centers. The 
Philhealth and DOH may enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with private 
hospitals for the establishment of Maiasakit Centers which shall cater indigent and 
poor patients of the private hospital.
SEC. 9. Donations from  Non-Governmentai Organizations and the 
Private Sector. - The DOH may solicit and receive donations from the private sector 
for medical assistance to indigent and poor patients. Such donations shall be exempt 
from income or donor's tax and all other taxes, fees and charges imposed by the 
government: Provided, That donations from the private sector for a particular hospital 
shall only be used for the benefit of the patients of the particular hospital: Provided 
further. That the donations ang grants shall only be used for the purpose specified by 
the donor. As such, the donor may send his or her representatives to the Maiasakit 
Center for the provision of the medical assistance donated by the donor in the 
particular hospital.
Receipts from donations, whether in cash or in kind, shall be accounted for in 
the books of the DOH in accordance with accounting and auditing rules and


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regulations. The receipts from cash donations and proceeds from sale of donated 
commodities shall be deposited with the National Treasury and recorded as a special 
account in the General Fund and shall be available to the DOH through a special 
budget pursuant to Section 35, Chapter 5, Book VI of Executive Order No. 292. 
Donations with a term not exceeding one (1) year shall be treated as trust receipts.
The DOH shall submit the quarterly reports of all donations received, whether 
in cash or in kind, and expenditures or disbursements thereon with electronic signature 
to the DBM, through the Unified Reporting System, and to the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, the President of the Senate of the Philippines, the House 
Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance and the Commission 
on Audit, by posting such reports on the DOH website for a period of three (3) years. 
The head of the DOH shall send written notice to the said offices when said reports 
have been posted on its website which shall be considered the date of submission.
SEC 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to establish Malasakit 
Centers shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. Additionally, there shall 
be an annual appropriation for the assistance to indigent patients under the DOH 
specifically for medical assistance to indigent and poor patients as provided for in 
Section 5 of this Act, and an annual appropriation for assistance to individuals and 
families in difficult circumstances under the DSWD budget for financial assistance to 
indigent and poor patients as provided for in Section 7 of this Act.
SEC 11. Im plem enting Ruies and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
from the approval of this Act, Philhealth, DOH, DSWD, in coordination with 
Department of Interior and Local Government shall jointly issue the implementing 
rules and regulations of this Act.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act that is 
declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or 
provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given 
effect in their entirety.


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SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other 
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly.
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,