PCSO hikes medical assistance allocation

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) increased its daily hospital and medical assistance budget for its 40 branches nationwide from R8.98 million to R13.55 million to be able to assist more individuals in need of medical care and attention.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said the increased daily budget took effect last October 1.

The Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) budget, the PCSO stressed, was increased in order to help more Filipinos.

The IMAP gives daily financial support to patients for their medical expenses.

“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.

“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,” he added.

Meantime, the PCSO board is currently reviewing if the allocations for the 20 new branches could also be increased as well. “(They are) still determining the availability of funds.”

PCSO said that daily IMAP allocation for the Southern and Bicol Region increased from R3.225 million to R4.05 million while that of Northern and Central Luzon increased from R2.8 million to R4.55 million, or an increase of R1.75 million.