Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Judy Taguiwalo disclosed that some  P971,723,806.36 under the Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa Program (LINGAP) is still available for indigent patients needing medicines.

She encouraged indigent patients to avail of the program to buy their medicines.

“Gamitin po natin itong benepisyong ipinagkaloob ng ating Pangulo na may malasakit sa kalusugan nating mga mamamayan. May sapat po tayong pondo para sa program  (Let us take advantage of this program initiated by the President who cares for the health needs of our people. We hope that Filipinos utilize the funds),” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo also asked media organizations to help in the information dissemination of the program so that more indigent Filipinos will be aware of the free medicines offered by the government.

LINGAP is a project of President Rodrigo Duterte that provides P1-billion to fund medicine assistance for indigent patients who need help to buy their medication.  It is implemented in six hospitals in Regions III, VI, VII, XI, and the National Capital Region (NCR). These are in the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital for NCR ; Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga for Central Luzon; Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City for Western Visayas; Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for Central Visayas; and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City, both for Davao Region.

To date, LINGAP has served 4,034 indigents from these aforementioned regions.

Under the program guidelines, indigents who are either confined in or receiving out-patient treatment from identified hospitals and need prescription medicines are qualified to become beneficiaries of LINGAP.

Those who want to avail of the program should provide a valid ID. If the patient has a representative, the latter should present a valid ID and a written authorization signed by the patient.

Proof of indigency must also be presented, but documentary requirement showing proof is not limited to a Barangay Certificate or Certification issued by the medical social service.

Another important requirement is the doctor’s prescription, which should have been issued in the past three months. This should indicate the date, the name of the patient, and signature of the attending physician, with his/her license number and contact details.

For more information, qualified patients may approach the social workers assigned in the participating hospitals. ###