The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Monday said it has approved the release of over P38 million in medical assistance to more than 4,400 eligible indigent beneficiaries nationwide.
PCSO General Manager Royina Garma said despite the suspension of operations in its main and extension offices due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the agency has approved P38,855,070 medical assistance for confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, hemophilia and post-operation medicines of 4,468 eligible indigent beneficiaries nationwide.
“In all given situations, PCSO will always live up to its mandate of providing medical and healthcare services to Filipinos, bearing a part of the weight and augmenting government efforts,” Garma said in a statement.
From April 20 to 24, the National Capital Region approved assistance amounting to P4.4 million for 340 individuals, P9 million for the Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region (STBR) for 1,101 patients, P12 million for Northern and Central Luzon with 1,432 cases, P8 million for the Visayas Region for 858 clients and P5 million for Mindanao area with 737 cases.
The Medical Access Program, formerly known as the Individual Medical Assistance Program is designed to augment the medical needs of the Filipino people nationwide, particularly the need for hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, and post-transplant medicines. The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide.