DAVAO CITY, Philippines– Some 1,800 patients have availed the “Libreng Gamot” (free medicine) program of the health department valued at Php8-million from March to June this year .
The Department of Social Welfare and Development 11 ( DSWD ) revealed the patients are from Southern Philippine Medical center (SPMC) in Davao City and in Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City.
Mercedita Jabagat, regional director of DS WD XI “In the first three months of implementation of Libreng Gamot Para Sa Masa (Lingap Sa Masa), we were able to provide medicine needs of 1,853 patients of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City.”
The social services record shows from March to June of this year, DSWD 11 disbursed a total of P8.096 million through the medicine assistance program of the Office of the President.
She said Lingap Sa Masa provides free medicines to indigent Filipinos or Filipinos in crisis needing current treatment for illness or injuries.
DSWD Crisis Intervention Unit head Gemma D. Dela Cruz said the assistance can be availed only once in three months.
“It is distinct and separate from the regular DSWD AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) which extends financial support for hospitalization, burial, education and transportation,” she said.
The target beneficiaries for Lingap are indigent, vulnerable or disadvantaged families or individuals, the informal sector and poor based on DSWD Listahanan, who are in crisis situation based on assessment of social workers.
Employees and contract of service workers of government in crisis situation, and dependents of soldiers and police officers killed or wounded in the line of duty.
Eligible recipients must bring any valid ID of the patient as well as valid ID of representative with written authorization signed by the patient in favor of the representative.
The Doctor’s prescription is also required and should issued within the last three months, indicating date and name of patient, duly signed by attending physician, with his license number and contact details.
Qualified beneficiaries must present Proof of Indigency or Certificate issued by the barangay or medical social service of an identified hospital. Armando B. Fenequito Jr./Newsline.ph
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