CEBU CITY: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has disbursed a total of PHP620.9 million worth of medical assistance to 74,682 residents of Region 7 (Central Visayas) in the first semester of 2024. The number of beneficiaries under the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program is significantly increasing because of their partnership with more hospitals and pharmacies, Shalaine Marie Lucero, regional director of DSWD-Central Visayas, said in a news release Sunday. 'Following the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through DSWD, we in Region 7 ensure that our services are accessible to more people and that is through partnering with different institutions and private entities,' Lucero said. Lucero said beneficiaries can now access big hospitals, including the four private hospitals under the Cebu Doctors Group, with whom they recently inked a partnership deal. DSWD also recently collaborated with Medicart Pharmacy, Dannes Pharmacy, Majesty Pharmacy and Gar rod Inc. for medicines and other supplies under DSWD's medical assistance program. DSWD-7 and their partner entities agreed that the agency will provide AICS clients with guarantee letters for the accredited partners that offer the goods and services they need. Lucero said the guarantee letter contains the amount of assistance based on assessment, then the agency directly pays the hospital or pharmacy. Through its Crisis Intervention Section where the AICS program is lodged, DSWD-7 has a partnership agreement with five pharmacies, seven hospitals and two other medical service providers. DSWD also provides burial, transportation, education, food, and financial assistance for other needs of an individual or family in crisis. Source: Philippines News Agency