Medical care costs an arm and a leg, and is beyond the reach of most Filipinos.
The good news is that a government agency is reviving its program to help defray part of the high cost of treatment and medication.
Philippine Gaming Amusement Corp. (Pagcor) announced on Saturday that it would resume accepting medical assistance requests, but the applications will have to be endorsed first to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for verification.
In a statement, Pagcor said it would verify with the PCSO if the applicant had been issued a guarantee letter.
The gaming regulator will start accepting walk-in applicants for medical assistance on Nov. 18.
“The primary objective of enhanced Pagcor and PCSO coordination is to maximize aid given to each patient and to harmonize the systems of both agencies,” Pagcor said.
“Under the arrangement, Pagcor will be able to tap the assistance of [the] PCSO, which has more human and organizational resources and experience in processing requests for medical assistance,” it added.
Responsible data sharing
Pagcor said the arrangement was an “interim measure” for responsible data sharing between the two agencies.
On Nov. 13, the government-owned and -controlled corporation said it would temporarily stop accommodating financial aid requests after a couple submitted to Pagcor fake documents for fictitious medical cases.
The two were arrested by officers from the Manila Police District in an entrapment operation.
They were charged with falsification of public documents but released from custody.
Pagcor said that it would still pursue legal actions against the couple.
The gaming regulator is mandated to fund sociocivic projects in the country. Its office on United Nations Avenue in Manila accepts walk-in applicants from Monday to Thursday.
It also has lanes located in hospital financial assistance centers.—NIKKA G. VALENZUELA