DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Unit gets P1B funding

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/221483432558/dswd-s-crisis-intervention-unit-gets-p1b-funding-
• Wednesday, January 4, 2017

(DSWD/RJB/LFB/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, Jan. 4 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare Development’s s (DSWD) Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) where the Medicine Assistance Program (MAP) is lodged will be getting a one billion funding as pronounced by President Rodrigo Duterte.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said that the President has given her instruction to formulate guidelines for the program implementation, and administer it immediately.

“Pres. Duterte, is very much aware of the high costs of medicines and the numerous indigent patients who cannot afford to buy prescription drugs. The P1 billion from the President’s Social Fund will enable these patients to access badly-needed medicines,” Taguiwalo added.

The Secretary recently released Memorandum Circle No. 16 which mobilizes DSWD Field Offices III, VI, VII, XI and the National Capital Region (NCR) to provide medicine assistance to indigent patients/clients, pending Malacanang’s fund transfer.

The DSWD’s medicine assistance program funded under the Pres. P1 billion fund aims to provide assistance to indigent Filipinos so they can immediately secure much needed prescription medicines.

The beneficiaries of the program are Filipinos who seek assistance from a DSWD office to access prescription medicine. The priorities are 1) families/individuals who are indigent, vulnerable, disadvantaged or those in the informal sector and poor based on the DSWD Listahanan; 2) government employees and contract of services workers; and 3) those who are facing crisis situations as determined by DSWD social workers.

The Secretary stressed that prescription medicines of drug dependents undergoing treatment/rehabilitation are not covered by the program. A separate program is being created for them,” she said.

The DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU), a special unit of the Department that serves as an action center that immediately responds to the needs of individuals and families in crisis situations facilitate the release of the medical assistance and located at the Central office (CO), FO, and/or Satellite Offices in the Provinces.

“The DSWD has yet to receive the P1 billion from Malacanang, but we are willing to foot the bill in the meantime so Filipinos who need immediate prescription medicines can access them ASAP. As soon as the fund is available, the DSWD will oversee and manage it and the program. Five percent of the fund will be used for project management,” the Secretary explained.

She also clarified that beneficiaries will not receive any cash, but referral letters from the DSWD which beneficiaries will take to DSWD partner drugstores and hospital pharmacies.

Those who need medicine assistance should bring and submit to the closest CIU the needed original or certified true copy of the following documents: 1) clinical abstract/medical certificate with full name, signature and license number of the attending physician (issued not later than three months);

2) The doctor’s prescription with date and the name of the patient. The prescription should be signed by the attending physician with license number indicated);

3) Barangay certificate of indigence or Indigent Card issued by the medical social service of the hospital; and

4) Any valid ID of the client.

If the prescription costs P5,000 or less, confirmation by the doctor or his/her duly certified representative of the veracity of the prescription is sufficient for the DSWD to provide the assistance.

A social case study report is needed as a supporting document for assistance more than P5,000 and can be availed of only once within three months.

Taguiwalo also explained that the DSWD can establish partnerships with service providers to ensure that clients are efficiently and effectively assisted immediately. The DSWD can forge contracts or enter memorandum of agreement (MOA) with qualified service providers.

“As a safeguard, in no case will the implementation of the program be delegated and/or transferred to any kind of civil society organization (CSO) regardless of whether it’s a non-governmental organization or a people’s organization, “the Secretary emphasized.