COTABATO CITY—Poor and indigent Moro people in Davao Region can now avail themselves of free medical assistance through Ayudang Medikal Mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBAG) Program’s Php10,000,000.00 fund lodged at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
“It will cater primarily poor and indigent patients, and those who find difficulty in paying their hospital bills,” Mohd Asnin Pendatun, AMBAG Program head said.
Since its official roll out in November 2019, the Program has partnered with 10 hospitals across the region and one in Davao Region.
The SPMC is the first hospital outside the Bangsamoro region where the AMBAG Program has been made available.
Pendatun, who is also the cabinet secretary, said the Program has already assisted 8,552 patients as of September—some of whom were the victims of twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu in August and victims of mortar shellings in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao in May.
Pendatun added that patients of Catholic faith and the indigenous peoples can be a beneficiary of the program.
“Non-Moros can also avail of this program, especially if they are residents of the region,” Pendatun added.
AMBAG is Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim’s flagship program designed to help indigent patients receive full medical assistance.
It has partnered with four hospitals in Maguindanao, including Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital, Datu Blah Sinsuat District Hospital, and Buluan District Hospital; two in Lanao del Sur, including Amai Pakpak Medical Center and Dr. Serapio Montañer, Al-Hadj Memorial Hospital; and Basilan General Hospital in Basilan.
It has also collaborated with Integrated Provincial Health Offices (IPHO) of Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Partnerships with other hospitals in North Cotabato, Sarangani, Zamboanga and Manila are still underway to reach more Moro people. (Bureau of Public Information)
