Some 2,137 individuals have already benefited from the Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa (Lingap) Program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

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).

As of April 12, a total of P15,487,450.06 has been utilized for the medicines of the patients who have availed of the program, leaving around P984,512,549.94 still available for indigent patients.

Of the total patients who have availed of free medicines, 1,124 beneficiaries were from Region III, followed by 467 patients from NCR, 295 from Region XI, and 159 from Region VII.

Lingap is implemented in the following selected hospitals: 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 the Davao Region.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo urged patients to avail themselves of the Libreng Gamot Para sa Masa.

“We have a President who cares for the overall welfare of the poor. We encourage patients who need help buy their medicines to take this opportunity,” she said.

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.

Certified true copies must be certified by either the DSWD social worker assigned to the hospital; the office that issued the document; or the officer who signed the document.

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. ###