Additional medical aid for Cebuanos

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said he will add P1.5 million to the P7 million medical assistance fund that he deposited to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in August 2011.

He also intends to expand the coverage of his medical assistance program to include the Eversely Child Sanitarium in Mandaue City.

“The implementation of my medical assistance program is based on the personal experience of my family. If we are faced with difficulties in taking care of our medical needs, how much more the poor families?,” he said.

Rey Martinez, Cayetano’s Cebu coordinator, said about P2.2 million was left from the P7 million appropriation.

Under the program, patients admitted at VSMMC could avail of medical aid by filing forms to be provided by Martinez.

Each applicant will receive P1,000 to P2, 500 worth of medicines which may be taken from the hospital pharmacy.

An option is to use the amount to help pay off the patient’s hospital bills.

Upon his arrival at the VIP lounge of the Mactan Cebu International Airport yesterday morning, Cayetano turned over blank forms to PNP Aviation Security Group head Richie Posadas so his group can avail of medical assistance.

Martinez also relayed to Cayetano the request of officials of the Cebu City jail to also include the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) as a beneficiary of his medical aid program.

“The city jail has about 2, 500 inmates,” Martinez told Cayetano. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac