THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) announced on Wednesday the revival of the “Botika ng Bayan” project that will provide free medicine to poor patients in government hospitals.
In a news conference in Malacañang, Pagcor Community Relations Head Arnell Ignacio said the P5 billion recently remitted by Pagcor to the national treasury will initially fund the revival of the project started during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Ignacio said President Duterte’s original plan with the P5-billion Pagcor remittance was the revival of the Botika ng Bayan project.
“When we turned over the P5 billion, his original plan is for the resurrection of the Botika ng Bayan. That’s because the President wanted that when a patient is given a prescription, he would be able to get it for free,” Ignacio said. “The thrust of the President is to revive the Botika ng Bayan because it’s painful for him to see that a patient brings with him the prescription but cannot afford to buy the medicines, because that would seem to be a mere paper cure—that the paper will cure you—which will never happen,” he said.
During his inaugural speech, Duterte said Pagcor’s estimated revenues ranging from P30 billion to P35 billion per year will be allocated for government hospitals to help poor patients with their medical needs.
Ignacio said the revival of Botika ng Bayan branches will be throughout the country, but the actual locations for these branches have yet to be determined.
He said Pagcor had initially allocated funds with the Philippine General Hospital, the National Kidney Institute and the Philippine Heart Center for the purchase of medicines to be given for free until the actual Botika ng Bayan branches have been established.