THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has committed to be a reliable partner in the implementation of the Marcos administration’s health agenda, which the President laid out during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“As is our commitment, we vow to continue working hard so we can be a reliable partner in Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s health agenda. We believe we are well placed in doing so, and the President and our fellow Filipinos can rest assured that we will do our part in contributing to the goal of having better public health services,” PCSO chairperson Junie E. Cua said.
During his 2nd SONA, President Marcos Jr. said the government is “now refocusing our health priorities, applying the lessons learnt from the pandemic and addressing the weaknesses that it has exposed.”
Marcos laid out his administration’s new health priorities, which include addressing hunger and nutrition-related issues such as stunting and wasting; catching up on routine vaccinations for children; suppressing the rise of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS by ensuring early diagnosis and treatment, and ample testing sites and medications; increasing the number and capability of public health facilities; and integrating primary care providers and networks for a more direct and efficient delivery of services.
Cua said the PCSO’s programs supplement the President’s concerns.
He said that the Medical Access Program, Institutional Partnership Program, Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program, Out-patient Services, Medicine Donation Program, and Medical and Dental Mission Program, which are all funded by the agency’s Charity Fund, could provide additional resources for the country’s health agenda.
Cua said the PCSO remitted P2.7 billion to the PhilHealth for the Universal Health Care (UHC) fund pool in 2022, in compliance with the mandate set by Republic Act No. 11223 or the UHC Act for the agency to allocate 40 percent of the Charity Fund to subsidize the program.
The amount represents the PCSO’s UHC contribution from 2019 to the third quarter of 2022.
