DSWD announces free medicine assistance for indigents in 5 regions

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday announced that indigents from five regions will be given free medical assistance courtesy of President Rodrigo Duterte's social fund.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 16, DSWD field offices in Regions III, VI, VII, XI, and the National Capital Region have been directed to provide medicine assistance to indigent patients or clients, pending Malacañang’s P1 billion fund transfer.

“Pres. Duterte, very much aware of the high costs of medicines and the numerous indigent patients who cannot afford to buy prescription drugs, allocated P1 billion to the President’s Social Fund to enable these patients to access badly-needed medicines," Sec. Judy Taguiwalo said in a statement.

"Pres. Duterte instructed us in the DSWD to formulate guidelines for the program, implement, and administer it immediately,” she added.

Taguiwalo explained the agency is tasked under the Department of Health's Medical Assistance Program to provide medical assistance to indigent patients through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations.

The DSWD prioritizes families or individuals who are indigent, vulnerable, disadvantaged or those in the informal sector; government employees and contract of services workers; and those who are facing crisis situations as determined by DSWD social workers as beneficiaries of the program.

The agency's Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU), an action center that responds to the needs of individuals and families in crisis situations, will facilitate the release of the medical assistance.

DSWD to handle bills before fund arrives

Meanwhile, Taguiwalo said the DSWD will handle the medical bills of the indigents first until the fund from Malacañang arrives.

“The DSWD has yet to receive the P1 billion from Malacañang, but we are willing to foot the bill in the meantime so Filipinos who need immediate prescription medicines can access them ASAP,” Taguiwalo said.

“As soon as the fund is available, the DSWD will oversee and manage it and the program. Five percent of the fund will be used for project management,” she added.
She also clarified that beneficiaries will not receive cash assistance, but referral letters which they will take to DSWD partner-drugstores and hospital pharmacies.
Documents needed to secure the referral letters include true copies of the medical certificate and doctor's prescription, Indigent Card, and any valid ID.

“If the prescription costs P5,000 or less, confirmation by the doctor or his/her duly certified representative of the veracity of the prescription is sufficient for the DSWD to provide the assistance,” Taguiwalo said.

However, Taguiwalo said a social case study report by a registered social worker may be required by the CIU to support the recommendation of assistance.

“A social case study report is needed as a supporting document for assistance more than P5,000. A client can avail of the assistance only once within three months,” she continued.

Taguiwalo added that the DSWD can establish partnerships with service providers to ensure that clients are given proper assistance.

“As a safeguard, in no case will the implementation of the program be delegated and/or transferred to any kind of civil society organization regardless of whether it’s a non-governmental organization or a people’s organization,” Taguiwalo said. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BM, GMA News