The Quezon City government and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) have joined hands in providing free medical and health care assistance to QC residents and city hall employees with kidney problems.
To implement the program, a memorandum of agreement between Mayor Herbert Bautista and NKTI executive director Aileen Riego-Javier was signed on the occasion of the Mayor’s 43rd birthday celebration on May 12 to highlight his administration’s continuing commitment to enhance the delivery of basic services to its constituents, especially the poor.
“This is a good gift for the people of Quezon City,” the Mayor said.
For her part, Dr. Javier said the NKTI highly appreciates its partnership with the administration of Mayor Bautista, whom she described as a staunch supporter of the hospital’s renal disease control program since his term as QC vice mayor.
As provided under the agreement, a P5 million yearly allocation, for a five-year period beginning May 12, 2011 until May 11, 2016, shall be set aside for the purpose of providing quality health care to the city’s underprivileged constituents by utilizing NKTI’s medical services and facilities.
Of the amount, P3 million shall be alloted to QC’s “Handog sa Bayan” free medical services program, which shall be utilized as discretionary fund of the Mayor. The remaining P2 million, on the other hand, shall be utilized by the social services development department, headed by Teresa Mariano.
Qualified beneficiaries shall be given free confinement on room accommodation, drugs and medicine, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, surgery/surgical expenses, central supplies and professional services of house staff.
For in-patient services, admission shall be into any service bed. Upgrading of room accommodation shall be at the expense of the patient. However, he may avail of the 20% percent government discount on room and board, medicines if the patient is a government employee.
If the patient is referred for out-patient procedures, he may consume the amount allocated by the city for his future hospital expenses. This includes emergency room services, laboratory test, medicines, among others.
According to the rules and regulations prescribed on the utilization of the free medical and health care services, all patients to be referred to the NKTI should present a letter of referral from the Office of the Mayor or his authorized representative.
City administrator Endriga also facilitated the processing of the agreement. -30- Precy/ Ramir/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO
