By: Leila N. Valencia
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has been ramping up efforts to boost the agency’s revenue collections from various gaming products such as Sweepstakes, Lotto, Scratch-it ticket, and STL to fulfill its mandate to allocate 30 percent of its charity funds to the agency’s charity programs and services like the Medical Acess Program (MAP).
From January to March 2022, PCSO released the amount of Php 374,368,133.56 to 48,590 indigents nationwide through its Medical Access Program (MAP). The program aims to provide timely and responsive financial assistance to individuals with health-related problems.
The program covers the assistance for hospital confinement, dialysis, cancer treatment, specialty medicines (Hemophilia, Post Kidney Transplant, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Anti Lupus, IVig, Psoriasis, Orphan disease, ITP, Thalassemia and Neuro-Psychiatric), surgical supplies, implant, laboratory/diagnostic procedures, medical devices, non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures, transplant procedures, and cardio procedures.
On Regional distribution, Northern and Central Luzon (NCL) approved a total amount of P93, 344,770.56 for 12,547 patients, National Capital Region (NCR) allocated P 79,386,853.91 for 5,862 indigent patients, Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region (STBR) approved P 85,193,241.39 for 413,586 patients, P 59,067,322.98 for 7,754 recipients in the Visayas Region and P 57,376,214.72 for Mindanao Region with 38,841 qualified individuals.
On the aspects of cases served, PCSO allocated a total of Php 239,187,858.94 for hospital confinement to 23,253 beneficiaries; Php 43,643,322.86 for chemotherapy with 5,077patients, 18,546 dialysis patients received Php 76,839,743.11, Php 3,774,533.93 for post-transplant medicines to 393 patients, Php 587,709.04 for hemophilia with 46 patients, Php 1,255,474.04 for Radiation with 112 beneficiaries, Php 4,981,592.63 for laboratory/diagnostic procedures with 950 patients, Anti Lupus medicines received Php 4,981,592.63 shared by 950 patients, Php 45,200.00 allocated for Thalassemia with 8 patients, Php 15,705.90 for Pneuro-psyche medicines with 4 patients, Php 17,000.00 alloted for 2 patients with Reheumatoid Arthritis,Php 3,408,759.75 for implants with 116 patients, Php 70,000.00 was released to 2 patients with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), and Php 20,000.00 for 1 patient who needs IV1g infusion.
PCSO’s main office still implements a “no-contact” policy when receiving requests for aid as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 disease, hence, patients from the National Capital Region (NCR) are encouraged to file their requests through the online application by accessing the PCSO official website www.pcso.gov.ph, go to E-Services and click the NCR Online Application.
PCSO Main Office and all PCSO Branch Offices nationwide are open from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm only to accept and process requests for medical assistance.
General Manager Royina M. Garma urged the public to continue patronizing and supporting PCSO gaming products as a huge portion of the agency’s revenue goes to charity. “It’s high time that we work hand in hand together so we could achieve our goal of helping our fellow kababayans.”
“Maliit na Halaga, Dala ay Pag Asa”
“Walang Humpay na Malasakit”