CHAMP Setback Mars Beneficiaries

Mayor Michael Rama has ordered his Executive Secretary Belinda Navascues to look into the report that there are some policies of the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medical Program (CHAMP) that are not favorable to the beneficiaries.

Rama said he has ordered Navascues to verify and to find out what could be the possible moves to improve the services of CHAMP to the aspiring sectors of the community.

One of the policies implemented at the Botika sa Masa also known as Dominique Pharmaceuticals is that it will only release drugs and medicines to the CHAMP beneficiaries from 2 o’clock to 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

The City Hall employee assigned in that drug store explained that such policy is being implemented as she cannot attend to the release of drugs and medicines to CHAMP beneficiaries in the morning because she will have to make the report of the supplies that were released in the previous day.

But the patients were complaining because there were instances that they really need the drugs and medicines in the morning, specifically for emergency cases. They are also complaining about the behavior of the City Hall employee assigned in that drug store.

The city, through the CHAMP office headed by Henry Sanchez, is contracting the services of three drugs stores – Pro-Champ situated along Panganiban corner Sanciangko Streets, Botika sa Masa and Pro-INAY Pharmacy, both located at B. Rodriguez Street.

A CHAMP beneficiary complained because when the personnel of Botika sa Masa told her that they do not have stocks of her needed medicines, she went to the nearby Pro-INAY hoping that there she may be able to get the supply.

While Pro-INAY has the needed drugs and medicines, the CHAMP beneficiary said she was told by the pharmacy personnel that they will give the supply but they need cash.

Even City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete admitted that there are several problem involving CHAMP that needs to be solved.

Each of the city residents is entitled to P5,000 assistance for drugs and medicines every year if they are out-patients and P25,000 if they are confined at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) or in any other hospitals accredited by the city.

The city is allocating millions of pesos for CHAMP.

Philipp Zafra, the mayor’s chief of staff, has assured that the problem would be solved once the city will be the one to purchase the drugs and medicines and it will be entrusted to the CCMC pharmacy where the CHAMP beneficiaries can claim them.

The state auditors said it is possible that the city could procure the drugs and medicines directly from the manufacturers or authorized dealers at much cheaper prices, therefore the hospital pharmacy can sell these at a little marked-up price.