Inday Loren: Antiqueños Can Avail of Free Medical Care

Loren Legarda today reminded her fellow Antiqueños to avail of the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patient Programs and underscored the importance of bringing accessible and affordable medical health coverage to her kasimanwa in Antique.

“The health of our people, especially those in the far-flung communities like my hometown in Antique deserves to be given priority, because this is one of the many rights of being a citizen in this country that is being neglected,” Legarda said.

“The funding is there, the facilities, and medicines are there, but there is a need for greater effort to bring the health services and assistance closer to the people and to make these healthcare benefits known by the people, especially the poorest who are the intended beneficiaries,” she stressed.

Legarda said that Antiqueños who need medical assistance, such as unpaid hospital bill, medicine and medical supplies, laboratory and other diagnostic procedures, may avail of the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patient Program, which is available in the following hospitals in Antique: Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose; President Diosdado Macapagal District Hospital in Tobias Fornier; Culasi District Hospital; Ramon Maza Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Sibalom; Bugasong Medicare Community Hospital; Valderrama Municipal Hospital; Pedro L. Gindap Municipal Hospital in Barbaza; and Justice Calixto O. Zaldivar Memorial Hospital in Pandan; as well as in West Visayas University Medical Center in La Paz, Iloilo City; Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City; and Rafael Tumbokon General Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan.

To avail of medical assistance, Antiqueños may submit their request to the Office of the Governor or contact the Senator’s staff in Antique—Marnie Payne at 09209828375 and Myra Galono at 09474708656.  The following are the requirements: barangay certificate of indigency, hospital bill or quotation, medical abstract, doctor’s prescription or instructions, laboratory request (for laboratory procedure), valid ID of patient, and DSWD social case study.

Funds were also provided under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) for the construction and expansion of various hospitals (Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital, Culasi District Hospital, Justice Calixto O. Zaldivar Memorial Hospital, Bugasong Medicare Community Hospital, Pedro L. Gindap Municipal Hospital, President Diosdado Macapagal District Hospital, Ramon Maza Sr. Memorial District Hospital, and Valderrama Municipal Hospital) and rural health units in Anini-y, Barbaza, Belison, Bugasong, Caluya, Hamtic, Laua-an, Libertad, Pandan, Patnongon, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, Tobias Fornier, and Valderrama.

“To my fellow Antiqueños, I urge you not to hesitate in availing this medical assistance, because this is all for your own benefit. Your health contributes a lot to how you function in the society. A healthy nation is a productive nation and the more we invest in the health of our people, the greater we nurture the future of our country,” Legarda concluded.