The Malasakit Center is a flagship program of the Philippine government that aims to provide accessible, streamlined, and compassionate medical and financial assistance to indigent and financially challenged Filipinos. Institutionalized through Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Center Act of 2019, the program mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), with the option to set up additional centers in other public hospitals.

Each Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop that houses representatives from partner government agencies, namely the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). In some locations, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) also extends assistance. This convergence of services enables patients and their families to conveniently access the necessary support without the burden of switching between agencies.

The assistance provided through Malasakit Centers may include hospital bill subsidies, medicines, medical procedures, laboratory and diagnostic services, assistive devices, transportation, food, and burial support. Medical social workers assess eligibility to ensure that assistance is directed to the most vulnerable sectors of society, including indigent patients, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and low-income families.

Since its launch in 2018, the Malasakit Center program has expanded nationwide, with more than 160 operational centers across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. To date, millions of Filipinos have benefitted from this initiative, making it a vital mechanism in strengthening the government’s commitment to universal healthcare and inclusive social protection.

At its core, the Malasakit Center embodies the values of malasakit or compassion, service, and solidarity—ensuring that every Filipino, regardless of status in life, can access responsive and quality healthcare assistance when they need it most.