THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) released over P2.2 billion in medical assistance to a total of 272,390 patient requests nationwide in 2021.

Based on the agency’s 2021 accomplishment report, it has released a total of P1.3 billion in funds for confinement cases of 134,033 patients; P628.8 million for dialysis injection cases of 107,891 patients; P236 million for the chemotherapy of 25,693 patients, and P18.3 million for hemodialysis of 2,397 patients.

Some 293 hemophilia patients got P2.6 million in assistance while 2,083 post-transplant patients received assistance worth P19.8 million.

The majority of the requests for assistance came from the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (Calabarzon) and 6 (Western Visayas).

The funds were released under the agency’s Medical Access Program (MAP), which is designed to augment the medical needs of Filipinos nationwide, particularly the need for hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, and post-transplant medicines. The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide.

PCSO general manager Royina Garma said the PCSO was able to assist through the issuance of guarantee letters to patients under hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, and medicines for hemophilia and post-transplant.

Garma assured the public that the PCSO will exert all efforts and explore all efforts to generate more revenues to sustain programs for Filipinos.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Arlene Rivera