Press Release - Marikina City father battles kidney disease with the help from Bong Go's Malasakit Center initiative

Life had been a daily battle for James Umpad, a 33-year-old father from Marikina City. Diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney disease, he often found himself on the brink of despair, his body weakened by illness, and his spirit burdened by the financial strain that comes with long-term treatment.

Yet, through it all, one constant source of comfort and survival for James came in the form of an initiative he never expected to depend on so deeply--Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and the Malasakit Centers.

James recalls how his health problems began in 2018. At first, it was just persistent back pain and occasional nausea, but as time went on, the symptoms worsened. By 2020, his hemoglobin levels had plummeted, and his creatinine shot up dangerously, leading to multiple emergency hospital visits.

"Nakakatakot po talaga ang gastusin, lalo na pag halos araw-araw may kailangan kang bayaran para sa gamot at sa ospital," James explained. For someone who had always been a provider, relying on his income to take care of his family, the medical bills became unbearable.

It was during one of his frequent hospital admissions, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that James was introduced to the Malasakit Center at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City--a one-stop shop dedicated to helping Filipinos in need, especially when medical expenses become overwhelming.

"Kung walang Malasakit Center, hindi ko po alam kung buhay pa ako ngayon," James shared candidly, reflecting on how the assistance he received helped ease the crushing burden of hospital bills. "Ayan po ang nagpapalakas sa akin--'yung anak ko, asawa ko, pamilya ko, at Malasakit Center na tumutulong."

Malasakit Centers aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.

As of now, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients' medical expenses. The DOH reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to nearly 12 million Filipinos.

Beyond the