Mindanaotoday.com | PCSO GRANTS PHP465 MILLION MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO 60,814 INDIGENTS NATIONWIDE FOR THE 2ND QUARTER OF 2022
By: Leila N. Valencia
From April to June 2022, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) spent Php465,462,964.26 in medical aid to 60,814 poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged individuals through its Medical Access Program (MAP).
Almost a quarter of the spending or Php115 million of the Php465 million, benefited 14,908 patients in Northern and Central Luzon (NCL), followed by 7,192 patients in the National Capital Region, who received Php103 million or 22% of the Php465 million. The Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region (STBR) received Php93 million for 15,881 patients, accounting for 20% of the total amount of Php465 million, while the Visayas Region received Php82 million, accounting for 18% of the total amount for 11,236 patients. Finally, the Mindanao region covers the remaining 16% of the Php465 million, assisting 11,597 patients.
Hospitalization, purchases of Erythropoietin (EPO) for dialysis, and chemotherapy drugs were the most highly utilized aids and services by patients for the period of April to June 2022. According to the MAP report, these top three services already account for 92%, or Php427 million, of the total Php465 million spent. The hospital confinement assistance was already at Php278 million, helping 28,444 patients, while the provision and supply of Erythropoietin (EPO) for dialysis was at Php90 million, or nearly 20% of the total amount, which helped 22,803 people. Chemotherapy drugs accounted for 13% of the total amount or nearly Php60 million, and aided 5,862 people.
The remaining balance of 8%, or Php38 million, of the Php465 million was used for patients in need of the following aids and services: laboratory/diagnostic procedures, radiation therapy, post-transplant/operative medicines, bone implant, hemophilia medicines, anti-lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, neuro-psychiatric medicines, cochlear implant, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), dialysis treatment, PCI device, Thalassemia, Immunocompromised Diseases (IVIG), and pacemaker. A total of 3,705 patients benefited from these services.
Qualified beneficiaries may apply for medical assistance through the Malasakit Centers nationwide. The Malasakit Center is a One-Stop Shop where indigent patients can efficiently access financial medical assistance from agencies such as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). To date, there are 129 Malasakit Centers with PCSO desks available to assist people. Furthermore, PCSO contributes funds from its revenue to support the Universal Health Care (UHC) law. With UHC, all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected against financial risk. The UHC works to ensure that every Filipino is healthy, protected from health hazards and risks, and has access to affordable, quality, and readily available health care that meets their needs.
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