DOH-Mimaropa official pushes for stronger medical assistance program

ELDERLY CARE. DOH Mimaropa Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo speaks to an elderly patient (MAP beneficiary) at the Dr. Damian Reyes Provincial Hospital in Marinduque (Photo courtesy of DOH Mimaropa). 

An official of the Department of Health (DOH) is proposing the creation of a bureau to strenghen the implementation of the DOH-Medical Assistance Program (MAP). 

 “There is already a need to establish a Public Assistance Bureau that will provide a more streamlined, consolidated and standardized system of service delivery network for patients in need of medical assistance,” DOH-Mimaropa Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo told delegates attending the 2017 Re-Orientation on DOH-MAP for Luzon Cluster.

The DOH medical assistance program provides financial support to indigent patients needing medical examination, consultation, treatment and rehabilitation: it is made available to all government hospitals and selected private health facilities duly approved by the DOH.

"A  MAP bureau will not just assure access to appropriate, medically necessary, and quality health care services for all indigent patient, it will also provide a responsive and timely service and accountability for the use of its resources, including a database that can be used for research," Director Janairo said.

About 28,736 people from Mimaropa have benefited from MAP from January 1 to November 30, 2017.

Out of that  number, 20,624 patients from the province of Palawan; 4,774 patients from Oriental Mindoro; 3,186 from Occidental Mindoro; and 152 from Marinduque.

 A total of Php 92,779,584.45 in hospital bills was paid through DOH's MAP and congressional allocations.

“The medical assistance program has now evolved into a bigger service delivery network. We also have more funds to spend coming from various government agencies including Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and allocations from the Senate and Congress including local government units (LGUs),” Janairo added.

Patients from Mimaropa in need of more specialized care are brought to Manila and given accommodation and basic daily needs at the DOH-Mimaropa regional office while waiting for their scheduled treatment.

Patients without companions, on the other hand, are assisted by DOH personnel throughout their stay including the completion of treatment and their return to their homes following their recovery. #

10 January 2018