BODY ASKS FOR MORE HOSPITALIZATION AID

Champ asks for P55M to serve more patients in Cebu City

To serve more patients, the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicine Program (Champ) is asking for a P55 million additional budget this year.

During the budget hearing yesterday, Champ Head Amor Villanueva said the additional budget will cover assistance for more patients starting this month up to December.

On average, Villanueva said they spend around P18 million a month in extending medical assistance to city residents confined in public and private hospitals.

Under the 2018 annual budget, Champ has an approved budget of P116 million.

However, Villanueva said that as of August, they only have around P18 million of remaining balance out of the P116 million approved budget this year.

“More patients are availing themselves of our assistance since we already cater to those who are confined in private hospitals,” she said.

Before, most of those who availe themselves of Champ assistance were those confined in public hospitals, such as the Cebu City Medical Center.

But the City made an agreement with some private hospitals to allow the former to shoulder the portion of the payments of the hospital bill through Champ.

Each qualified patient can avail himself of up to P30,000 through Champ.

As of July, the City was able to serve 10,058 patients already.

The P55 million additional budget for Champ was part of the proposed P299.8 million third supplemental budget of the City this year.