Dr. Pinky Casas of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Medical Office VI explained the office's Medical Access Program (MAP), which assists Filipinos in need of medical assistance during times of medical crisis.

"Ang medical access program po ay programa ng PCSO upang makapagbigay tulong sa mamamayang Pilipino na nangangaialangan ng tulong sa panahon ng pang-medical na krisis o mga panahong nangangailangan sila ng medikal na tulong," she said in an interview with DZRH's Executive Session on Saturday, March 12.

According to Casas, PCSO can assist Filipinos who are admitted to hospitals and require diagnostic examinations, such as hospital bills or chemotherapy or hemodialysis, among other things.

The program requires a medical abstract signed by a doctor, a bill signed by the hospital, and the patient's valid ID.

Patients can also access social services at Department of Health hospitals via Malasakit centers, or they can use MAP online if they live in the National Capital Region (NCR) for hospitals without Malasakit centers.

PCSO provides up to P50,000 in financial assistance for hospital bills, depending on the patient's bill.

If they are from a private hospital, they can process the appointment online through MAP if they live in the NCR, or they can visit PCSO offices in their province.

Meanwhile, PCSO's MAP includes specialties such as specialty medicine, chemotherapy, and laboratories.

The PCSO can approve the medical assistance and receive the guarantee letter the same day, whether in the NCR or elsewhere.

Guaranteed letter processing is available Monday through Friday.