GOVERNOR Gwendolyn Garcia has announced that the Capitol will launch “HimSugbo,” or “Himsog nga Sugbo,” the Provincial Government’s program that will provide free medicines and medical supplies to indigent patients at district and provincial hospitals in Cebu Province, this weekend.

Garcia said they are finishing the encoding of Quick Respond (QR) codes on prescription slips that will be signed by doctors and other stakeholders.

“I think the system is still being perfected, but we will be able now to start the implementation,” Garcia said.

On Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, and Sunday, Dec. 11, the Provincial Government will conduct medical missions in Argao town and Carcar City in the south of Cebu where it will introduce QR-coded prescriptions for the first time.

“Mao nay atong gi-target so that kadtong kinahanglan nila nga tambal i-isyu nalang sa QR-coded nga prescription slips para mapalit sa mga indigents,” Garcia said.

(That is what we are targeting so that those who need medicines will be given QR-coded prescription slips that indigent patients can use to purchase.)

The governor said a beneficiary can present the prescription, which will also have the signature of a social welfare personnel and the chief of hospital, to the Provincial Government’s partner merchants who will scan the QR code and release the items prescribed by the attending physician for free.

The Provincial Government has entered into an agreement with 40 pharmacies and medical suppliers for the implementation of “HimSugbo.”

Garcia had said that the Capitol would use funds from the Office of the President amounting to P50 million and the Department of Health amounting to P35 million for the new program.

Aside from medicines, beneficiaries can also avail themselves of free prosthetics and assistive devices, among others. (ANV / PJB)