More indigent Filipinos can now avail free medicines through the Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa or LINGAP SA MASA.
The free medicine assistance program is funded under President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Socio-Civic Projects Funds and to be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The said program is in partnership with a select regional hospital. In region 7, DSWD Field Office VII inked the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) for the provision of free medicines to indigent patients in Central Visayas region.
The signing of MOA happened during the DSWD 66th anniversary celebration held in SM Seaside City Cebu last February 9, 2017.
“We will set-up a desk in VSMCC so that it would be easy for the patients who will be needing prescription medicines will be immediately assessed by our assigned social worker,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.
“A guarantee letter will be issued by DSWD for the purchase of medicines from hospital pharmacies or from partner drug stores,” Macapobre added.
Macapobre clarified that this medicine program is distinct and separate from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
Target beneficiaries of this program are the following:
- Families or individuals who are indigent, vulnerable or disadvantaged;
- Those in the informal sector and poor based on the DSWD Listahanan;
- Those who are in crisis situations based on assessment of social workers;
- Government employees and contract of service workers working in the government; and
- Beneficiaries of soldiers and police who were killed or wounded in the line of duty.
The “Lingap sa Masa” medicine assistance program is in response to President Duterte’s directive to give indigent Filipinos access to free medicines to help them recover from their illnesses.
Requirements to avail these free medicines are:
- Any valid ID of the patient;
- Valid ID of the representative and a written authorization signed by the patient;
- Doctor’s prescription issued not later than three (3) months; and
- Proof of indigency from the Barangay or Certification issued by the medical social service of an identified hospital.
The program is initially implemented in other four regions, namely NCR, regions 3, 6 and 11.
Once it expands, the DSWD plans to make the assistance available to all regions. ###
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