PCSO intensifies charity programs
IN just two months since the 2018, the Philippine Charity start of Sweep-
President Rodrigo Duterte (sixth from left) and PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan (second from left) lead the launching of the ‘Malasakit Program’ at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. With them are some government officials headed by Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte (third from right) quirement, patients have to be rescheduled for the following month,” he said.
Not all requests are being granted though. Cedro said distance is the number one consideration when conducting medical missions. They have to be conducted in Metro Manila and nearby provinces only.
“Proximity and transportation are issues. Yes, we have shuttle services and ambulances, but still we have to consider the distance because we hold the mission from 8 a.m. to 12 noon only,” he said.
should also be a six-month gap for requests by same organizations, barangays, or companies. They cannot conduct medical missions for them on a monthly basis.
“We aim to provide equitable, services through medical and dental missions,” he said, adding “the program provides outreach health care activities in depressed communities who have less or no access to health services offered by the local government.”
Depending on the location, medical and dental missions are conducted only for a day, but if it’s in the far North, the medical team usually stays for a few days.
“We wanted to make sure that we maximize our presence there. When we went to Cagayan [Valley] last year, we held the mission for three days then we returned [to Manila],” he said.
“We factored in the distance, personnel complement [the number of people we send], and the number data being provided to us by the requesting party,” he added.
Based on statistics, PCSO can accommodate 600 to 800 patients in one medical mission a day. These patients avail of free medical consultation, medicines, basic laboratory services, blood examination, Electrocardiography (ECG) tests, and other services. Free dental procedures were held at Bagumbayan, Pililla, Rizal
Types and scope of assistance provided by PCSO during a medical/ dental mission include medical consultation and treatment, medicines for primary health care, basic laboratory services, blood examination, Electrocardiography (ECG) tests, dental consultation and treatment, including tooth extraction, and preventive dental health education.
Depending on the number of dentists around, tooth extractions are being conducted for a maximum of 100 patients.
Meanwhile, if one wants to partner with PCSO for a medical/dental mission, the interested parties must accomplish the following: Letter of request – addressed to the PCSO Chairman/General Manager; Provide manpower to assist in the medical and dental mission; Consumption reports from previous request (if any); and Project proposal with the following items: a) Project rationale and b) Project objectives.
Charity for all
The PCSO Charter, particularly on Mother and child were among the beneficiaries of the medical mission on February 2 Free medicines were also given to patients revenue allocation, provides that the revenue of the PCSO shall be allocated to 55 percent for Prize Fund (payment of prizes), 30 percent for Charity Fund (various charity programs and services) and 15 percent as Operating Fund (maintenance and operating expenses).
An important part of the Charity Assistance Department is the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP), which attends to the health-related problems through
PCSO issues a guarantee letter to the hospital or partner health facility which assumes the obliga the client for the services rendered.
The agency also has Institutional Partnership (IP) Program, Medicines and Medical Supplies Donation Program, Medical Equipment for Hospitals and Other Health Institutions, Calamity Assistance Program, AFP/PNP Health Facilities’ Capability Building Project.
It also has Capability Enhancement Assistance – PCSO Primary Health Care Capability Building Project, Milk Feeding Program ( MFP), Construction of Health Facilities, PCSO ASAP Program, and PCSO Enrolment System for Hemo and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.
Under the Medical Services Department, the agency has an OutPatient Services Program, which provides comprehensive health services for free and Auxiliary Ambulance Service, a free ambulance service to patients who need to be transported to the hospital.
The Medical And Dental Mission, an outreach health care activities in the depressed community within and outside of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, includes provision of free medicines for those who have less or no access to health services offered by the local government. Meanwhile, the Medicine Donation Program (in-kind) provides augmentation of the needed medicines in kind government agencies enabling - fective health care services.