COTABATO CITY— Since October 6, 2020, the Bangsamoro Government, through the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) has already released Php19,967,870.54 fund to assist indigent patients at Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City.
This is through the ministry’s Bangsamoro Critical Assistance for Indigents in Response to Emergency Situations or B-CARES Program, which covers hospitalization expenses, cost of medicines, and other medical treatments or procedures such as laboratory fees, dialysis, chemotherapy, Computed tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and anti-retroviral therapy.
B-CARES Program has so far served 1,507 patients in CRMC and more than 50% of the patients were residents of Cotabato City.
“Sa CRMC, mayroon tayong social worker na nasa Malasakit Center nakatalaga. So, lalapit lang sila (mga pasyente) sa lugar na ‘yon at pwede silang ma-assess ng ating social worker,” said MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa Jajurie in an interview on Wednesday, Oct. 20.
As of August 2021, MSSD has 11 partner hospitals in BARMM with a total of Php68,894,606.21 allotted fund. The hospitals include:
- Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao;
- Maguindanao Integrated Provincial Hospital in Shariff Aguak Municipality;
- Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City;
- Community Health Service Cooperative Hospital (COHESCO) in Midsayap, North Cotabato;
- Dr. R.A.M. Albutra General Hospital in Kabacan, North Cotabato;
- Basilan General Hospital in Isabela City;
- Lamitan District Hospital in Lamitan City,Basilan;
- Sulu Integrated Provincial Hospital in Jolo;
- Pangutaran District Hospital in Pangutaran, Sulu; and
- Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Furthermore, MSSD’s partnership with Mercury Drug store in Cotabato City has already covered Php12.8 million worth of medicines for 1,880 patients from May 19 to September 30, 2021. Of the beneficiaries, 60% were residents of the city.
“Para naman sa Mercury Drug na partnership kung saan pwede pong mabigyan ang isang benipisyaryo ng tulong para makabili ng medisina for a maximum amount of 10,000 pesos, maaari silang pumunta sa regional office ng MSSD,” Jajurie said.
Patients requiring assistance for the purchase of medicines may go to MSSD’s office in Cotabato City and submit the prescription, which must include the date of issuance of the prescription, patient’s complete name, and PRC license number and signature of the attending physician.
“Ginagawa ng Ministry at ng BARMM government ang lahat para maipaabot ang serbisyo at mga programa sa lahat nang walang naiiwan,” Jajurie stressed. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
