Lingap Program: 18.2-M free meds dispensed, so far

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far distributed 18.2 million worth medicines to underprivileged patients in selected hospitals in Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Davao Region and Metro Manila under the Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa or Lingap Program.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said Lingap extended assistance to patients at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in Manila; Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga; Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City; Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City; Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City.

Lingap is a 11billion free medicine program for indigent Filipinos who cannot afford to buy medicines.

As of March 22, some 984 indigent Filipinos from the said regions have already availed of the free medicine program with a total disbursement of P8,259,756.15.

The implementation of Lingap is guided by Memorandum Circular No. 02 formulated by the DSWD to ensure an orderly and standard utilization of the P1 billion free medicine fund.

Under the Lingap guidelines, indigent Filipinos who are either confined in or receiving out-patient treatment from identified hospitals and who are in need of prescription medicines are qualified as beneficiaries.