In line with its mandate to provide accessible social welfare assistance, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Office of the President’s P1 billion free medicine program or the “Lingap sa Masa” continues to serve the medical needs of indigent Filipinos.

“After more than a year of its implementation, we are happy to say that the expansion of the Lingap sa Masa program has benefitted many of our indigent citizens since it does not only extend free medicines, but also provides funds for the laboratory services  and assistive devices needed by our marginalized kababayans,” said DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel A. Leyco.

Last month, the Department amended the guidelines for the program and renamed it from “Libreng Gamot para sa Masa” to “Lingap at Gabay Para sa May Sakit”.

As of October 2017, the program has already served 33,538 clients in six government hospitals that implement the program, namely: The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) in Manila; Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital (JBLMH) in San Fernando City, Pampanga; Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City; Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City; and the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City and Davao Regional Hospital (DRH) in Tagum City.

The total fund utilized amounted to P337,051,366.52 which is 33.71% of the total available funds.

Under the guidelines, Lingap sa Masa is distinct from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the DSWD and can be easily accessed at the social service department of the identified hospitals.

Those who are qualified to avail of the program are: 1) Families or individuals who are indigent, vulnerable, or disadvantaged; 2) those in the informal sector and categorized as “poor” based on the DSWD Listahanan; 3) those who are in crisis situations based on the assessment of social workers; 4) government employees and contract of service workers working in the government; and 5) beneficiaries of soldiers and police who were killed or wounded in the line of duty.

Interested clients can avail of the benefits of the program by providing the following requirements: 1) any valid identification card (ID) of the patient or his/her representative; 2) written authorization letter signed by the patient in favour of the representative; 3) proof of indigency or certificate issued by the barangay or medical social service of the identified hospital; and 4) doctor’s prescription issued within the last three months  with the date, name of patient, signature of the attending physician with his/her license number and contact details.

“With the expansion of the Lingap sa Masa, we encourage more indigent citizens in need of immediate medical assistance to avail of the program. However, we also would like to clarify that unless there is a valid justification or other factors determined and approved by our social workers, those who already received medical assistance through our AICS program are no longer eligible for the program and vice-versa,” reminded DSWD OIC Leyco.

Finally, he reminded everyone that availing of the Lingap sa Masa benefits  does not require applications to show any endorsement letter from local government officials, but said letters be acknowledged if present. ###