Various government agencies signed a joint administrative order on Friday to avoid overlapping of financial and medical assistance to patients.

The Department of Health (DoH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) signed the “Streamlining Access to Medical Assistance” policy to define their roles in providing financial assistance to patients.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd in a statement said, “We welcome this partnership for two reasons: First, we are avoiding duplication in what government agencies are paying for, getting more from taxpayer money. Second and more importantly, we are cutting red tape to benefit poor patients.”

WORKING TOGETHER Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd (third from left), along with Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center chief Dr. Emmanuel Monta, Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns Wendel Avisado, Acting Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Vice President Dr. Shirley Domingo, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office OIC-Assistant General Manager Rubin Magno link arms, after signing the Joint Administrative Order on Streamlining Access to Medical Assistance Funds of the Government at the Health Department office on Friday. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

“Patients will no longer have to suffer the inconvenience of going from one agency to another and the corresponding amount from each agency will also be just and fair,” he added.

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The Health chief explained how each of their agencies will work to streamline the process.

“For example, after PhilHealth, other health insurance (if any), and entitlements like Senior Citizens, PWD (persons with disabilities), etc. have been discounted, PCSO, the DoH medical assistance for indigents and finally the government hospital will shoulder the remainder of the bill according to fixed and published formulas,” he said.

Earlier this year, an initiative called “Malasakit Centers” was implemented by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Visayas in government hospitals in their region to provide a one-stop shop for financial assistance and medical services from various government agencies, resulting in shorter queues and paperwork for patients.

The joint Administrative Order was made to further this initiative with the opening of the Malasakit Center in Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center to provide guidance on the amount of financial assistance available from each agency.

This is part of the Philippine Development Plan 2016-2022 which seeks to cover all Filipinos against financial health risks.