NEWS




30September

AMBaG Program downloads PhP100M to 22 partner hospitals within, outside the Bangsamoro

COTABATO CITY – Since 2019, the Ayudang Medikal mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBaG) program has downloaded more than 100 million pesos to 22 hospital within and outside the Bangsamoro Region to help poor Bangsamoro families with their hospital bills and improve their access to much-needed medical procedures.
AMBaG is one of the flagship programs of the Office of the Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that provides support to Bangsamoro people inside and outside in need of hospitalization and medical assistance.

“Malayo na ang narating ng AMBaG ngunit malayo pa ang ating inaasam na maaabot nito lalo na sa mga kababayan nating patuloy na nahihirapan sa mga bayarin sa ospital o ano pa mang pangangailangang medikal,” Ebrahim said.
[AMBaG has come a long way but we still hope that it will reach out our constituencies, especially those who continue to have difficulty with hospital bills or any other medical needs.]

The program has benefitted a total of 16,532 Indigent Bangsamoro patients.

During the social media and radio program talk show “Kaunlaran sa Bangsamoro” of the Bangsamoro Multimedia Network (BMN) Inc. with Jordan L. Talusob, AMBaG Program Executive Assistant II, he said that, “Starting from 2019, the AMBaG budget of approximately 100 million pesos was downloaded and divided into 22 partner hospitals inside and outside the BARMM.”

Talusob said that the budget is to subsidize the hospital and medical expenses of Bangsamoro patients which are not covered by PhilHealth and other medical assistance programs. 
He added that this AMBaG program aims to really bring the government closer to the people as part of advocacy of Moral Governance.

 “Nabuo ang AMBaG program una, mula ng maitatag ang BARMM. Marami sa mga ka Bangsamoro ang lumapit sa BARMM, noong nakaupo na ang ating mga leaders, para magpatulong sa pag settle ng kanilang hospital bills. Kaya dahil doon nagkaroon ng directives ang OCM na gumawa ng programa para makagawa ng solution sa pag settle ng kanilang hospital bills,” Talusob related.

[The AMBaG program was formed first, since the establishment of BARMM. Many of the Bangsamoro people approached BARMM, our leaders were sitting down, seeking help to settle their hospital bills. So, because of that, OCM had directives to create a program to come up with a solution to settle their hospital bills.]

He said that the program is not only for the Bangsamoro inside BARMM core territory, citing, “AMBaG Program, is always anchored in the principle of inclusivity. Maaring makatanggap ang hindi taga BARMM like sa SPMC sa Davao and General Santos City, sa Zamboanga City and Sibugay.”

[AMBaG Program is always anchored in the principle of inclusivity. Non-BARMM residents like SPMC in Davao and General Santos City, Zamboanga City and Sibugay can also receive.]

The qualified beneficiaries who can avail on the AMBaG program according to Talusob include those “Yung miyembro siya ng 4Ps, kung sponsored ang PhilHealth Card o MDR, may Indigent certificate na galing sa Barangay officials or merong summary card na galing sa MSSD BARMM among others kabilang sa indigent patients.”

[He is a member of 4Ps, if PhilHealth Card or MDR is sponsored, has Indigent certificate from Barangay officials or a summary card from MSSD BARMM among others are among the indigent patients.]

He also explained the processes and requirements in availing the program as follows: “Una, kailangan lamang ng medical abstract o latest or final bill. Pangalawa, dapat meron siyang certification card para naman makita natin talaga na yung tao na yun ay karapat dapat. Pangatlo, automatic na makakuha yung ating patient ng 10,000 pesos ayon doon sa AMBaG.”

[First, only a medical abstract or latest or final bill is needed. Secondly, he must have a certification card so that we can really see that such person is worthy. Third, our patience will automatically get 10,000 pesos according to AMBaG.]

Talusob said that those patients that need more than 10,000 pesos that has been already allocated budget for AMBaG are required to make a letter of request addressed to the Chief Minister, to secure an endorsement letter in the AMBaG partner hospitals’ desk office where he/she was admitted and it will be evaluated by AMBaG Program Management Office for final recommendation.

When asked if they are extending help to outpatients, he said, “Dapat maintindihan na ang AMBaG ay kini-cater lamang ang inpatient. There are special cases na maaring matulungan ng AMBaG. Una ay yung nagda-dialysis. Kapag ang pasyente ay nagda-dialysis kailangan niya ng mas malaking gamutan. Pangalawa, physical therapy at chemotherapy. Maaari siyang makatanggap ng ayudang AMBaG.” 

[It should be understood that AMBaG only caters the inpatient. There are special cases that AMBaG can help. The first one is those under dialysis. When the patient is on dialysis, he needs a larger treatment. Second, physical therapy and chemotherapy. He can also receive AMBaG assistance.]

Among the 22 AMBaG partner hospitals are the Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Basilan General Hospital, Buluan District Hospital, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital, Datu Blah Sinsuat District Hospital, Dr. Serapio Montañer Al-Haj Memorial Hospital, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of Maguindanao, IPHO Sulu, IPHO Tawi-Tawi, and the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.