SEN. Bong Go on Wednesday said his priority for the new year is to ensure that public health funds are directly translated into improved patient care. “The best gift for Filipinos in the new year is to ensure that the health fund is truly utilized. This is the people’s money, so we must make sure it is used correctly and felt by patients who need it most,” Go said, speaking in Filipino. As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go said his health care agenda would remain focused on the long-term goal of reducing the number of sick Filipinos while expanding the health system’s capacity to serve patients. He added that this would include preventive care, accessible services, and strengthening government hospitals. Go said medical expenses remain a major cause of financial hardship for many families. “No Filipino should be pushed deeper into poverty simply because of illness,” the senator said. Go said the continued operation of Malasakit Centers is crucial in providing financial assistance to indigent patients. “When the Malasakit Center is running smoothly, patients have less to worry about when it comes to hospital bills. That’s why proper implementation and constant monitoring are important,” he added. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the one-stop shop program that brings together assistance from agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. According to the DOH, 167 Malasakit Centers are currently operational nationwide and have collectively assisted more than 17 million Filipinos with their medical expenses since the program’s inception.