'PCSO’s direct medical subsidies to continue'

DOH: P8-B aid, 450,000 patients may be affected

MANILA, Philippines —Despite an order by President Duterte to close all its gaming outlets, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will continue its direct medical assistance program for the poor.

PCSO general manager Royina Garma said yesterday that the agency’s Individual Medical Assistance Program services “will still be available today and onwards, unless otherwise instructed,” in all branches nationwide and at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, with the PCSO’s funding appropriation good until the end of the year.

It is unclear, however, where the PCSO will source its funds with the indefinite suspension of its principal revenue-raising operations.

On top of Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) coverage, indigent people can obtain funds directly through PCSO branches for medical procedures including kidney dialysis and chemotherapy for cancer.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said yesterday that the PCSO provided P7.9 billion in such direct subsidies to about 450,000 beneficiaries in 2017. This was up from the 319,000 in 2016, and Duque says the number was likely higher last year.

In addition, the PCSO, which is the principal state agency for raising funds for public health care, is supposed to contribute P3 billion of the P257 billion for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) program.

Duque told “The Chiefs” last night on Cignal TV One News that the DOH and PCSO would discuss the funding problem today with officials of the Department of Finance and other concerned agencies during a meeting at Malacañang.

Being a government-owned and controlled corporation, Garma said PCSO would abide by the decision of the President.

The PCSO immediately implemented the suspension on Saturday. All lotto and Keno terminals were automatically disabled from the Main Data Center of its system providers.

“The PCSO supports the decision of the President in eradicating corruption and illegal gambling activities. The agency programs, projects and activities are aligned with the objectives and goals of our national government,” the agency said.

It assured winning bettors that they could still claim their prizes.

“For those holding winning lotto and Keno tickets, prizes can still be claimed at the PCSO Head Office on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday,” it said in a statement.

Compromise  UHC law

Health organizations said the PCSO suspension would compromise the implementation of the UHC law.

In separate interviews, the groups opposed a Senate proposal to privatize the PCSO.

The privatization will diminish the pooled source of funds for the UHC, according to Maricar Limpin, executive director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines.

“We have a big deficit even with the new tobacco tax rates… This may further heighten the fund deficit,” Limpin said, referring to the closure order.

Anthony Leachon, co-convenor of the Sin Tax Coalition, said privatizing the PCSO is not the answer to corruption at the agency.

“Gambling should always be under the control of the government, so it can restrict or expand gambling activities as the need arises. What is needed is a stricter accounting oversight on private entities to ensure that the state gets its share,” Leachon said.

He said the group supports government’s efforts to stop corruption, but the closure of PCSO outlets would affect UHC funding and implementation.

Robert Mendoza, president of the Alliance of Health Workers, said the closure would worsen the problems of the poor, who rely on the PCSO for medical assistance.

Mendoza said once the PCSO is privatized, charity will most likely be its least priority.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) expressed confidence that every decision made by Malacañang was well studied, including its effects on all concerned sectors.

“We don’t know yet all details of the closure. We have to wait for further advice from Malacañang on the fate of the PCSO and its resources before we can assess the impact of this on the long-term goals of the UHC,” Shirley Domingo, PhilHealth spokesperson, said.

Turned to Senate

With the suspension of PCSO, Filipinos yesterday trooped to the Senate to ask medical assistance from the senators.

Arnel Uy, 50, a person with disability, said he came from Davao to ask financial and medical assistance from Sens. Cynthia Villar and Manny Pacquiao.

He told The STAR he had sent letters to the two senators, but it seemed they have not received the letters.

Uy, in a wheelchair, was accompanied by his wife, who was the one filling out the forms given at the entrance of the Senate compound in Pasay City.

He has been wheelchair-bound for eight years now due to a slipped disc that he suffered after his uncle’s gun accidentally went off and a bullet hit him.

Uy said that unlike before, seeking financial help from senators today is no longer easy. He expressed hope the process would again become less tedious and more convenient.  – With Sheila Crisostomo,  Cecille Suerte Felipe