MANILA — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has increased the daily allocation of 40 branches across the country for its Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) from PHP8.98 million to PHP13.55 million, General Manager Alexander Balutan said on Thursday.
Balutan said the measure was approved by the board which took effect immediately on October 1.
According to Balutan, the increase allows the agency to help more patients as IMAP caters daily financial support for medical expenses such as hospitalization of patients who will avail of the program.
“We increased the IMAP daily allocation as our branch offices have limited IMAP funds to cover the needs of its clients resulting in delayed and inefficient delivery of services to the public,” Balutan said in a statement.
The PCSO board is still reviewing the allocations of the 20 other branches and determining the availability of funds.
The daily IMAP allocation for the Southern and Bicol Region increased from PHP3.225 million to PHP4.05 million while that of Northern and Central Luzon increased from PHP2.8 million to PHP4.55 million, or an increase of PHP1.75 million.
In the Visayas region, the daily allocation increased from PHP1.9 million to PHP3.2 million or an increase of PHP1.3 million; while allocation for the Mindanao region increased from PHP1.055 million to PHP1.75 million.
Through the IMAP, the PCSO will guarantee the payment of health expenses, including hospital confinement, cancer treatment medicine, dialysis, transplant procedures, cardiovascular procedures as well as medical and assistive devices, among others.
“The move is to cater the increasing numbers of patients who are seeking financial assistance from PCSO. We are doing our best to accommodate all of them as much as our funds permits,” Balutan said.
To hasten the release of guarantee letters, he said patients should submit to the PCSO complete documentation, including IMAP application form, medical abstract, valid identification card of patient and representative, authorization letter from patient in cases where there is no immediate relative available for interview, statement of account, endorsement from the medical social services of the health facility and endorsement/certificate of acceptance of PCSO guarantee letter among others. (PNA)
