PCSO wants price quotes for MAP

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has issued new guidelines advising applicants to present pharmacy price quotations for their requested medicines under its Medical Assistance Program (MAP).

In an advisory issued on Sept. 30, the PCSO stated that those requesting for free medicines for chemotherapy, post-liver and kidney transplant, epoetin injections and hemophilia medicines under its MAP should declare prices in the drugstore or pharmacy where they will purchase the drugs.

“All requests for medicines should include a price quotation from the retailers/drugstores/pharmacies/hospitals or dialysis centers of choice of the patients,” it said.

The PCSO has maintained its MAP program, despite being one of the primary funding agencies for the universal health care program with the UHC Law or Republic Act 1223, which took effect in 2019, mandating that 40 percent of the organization’s charity fund be allocated for implementation of the law.

In September, the PCSO last month disbursed P202.2 million in medical assistance to indigents and other persons needing help with medical expenses under its MAP.

Royina Garma, PCSO general manager and vice chairperson, said the issuance of financial assistance totaled P202,299,298.63 from Sept. 1 to 30, benefiting 24,360 individuals nationwide.