The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provided medical assistance to the government-run Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) as part of its health care support program for the region’s indigents.

“BARMM continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing health care support to its people,” Mohd Asnin K. Pendatun, BARMM cabinet secretary and AMBaG program head, said in a statement Thursday.

Pendatun, accompanied by Jurjani Silongan from the Office of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, turned over the check to Dr. Ismael Dimaren, CRMC chief of hospital, on Wednesday afternoon.

“The PHP31 million fund is for medical assistance for patients at the CRMC under the BARMM’s Ayudang Medikal mula sa Bangsamoro Government (AMBaG),” added Pendatun, also the regional spokesperson.

AMBaG is a BARMM government-funded medical assistance program intended to enhance the accessibility of health services for the Bangsamoro people.

The financial assistance is expected to benefit not only low-income residents of the region, but also those from neighboring provinces who rely on CRMC for their health care needs.

Meanwhile, Dimaren lauded the BARMM leadership for providing necessary funds for needy patients served by CRMC.

He also discussed with Pendatun the hospital’s plans for significant transformation to better accommodate the increasing number of patients, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enhance the hospital’s facilities and services.

CRMC is one of the AMBaG’s 45 partner hospitals in and outside the BARMM. Since 2019, the AMBaG program has assisted 174,000 individuals, with the CRMC serving 11,544 indigent patients. (PNA)