Programs : Medical Programs

The ICM Medical Program provides healthcare services to those who are unable, through lack of knowledge or funds, to seek this assistance from the Philippine healthcare system. The medical program has three key streams: Open Air Clinics, The Care Recovery Shelter, and Special Medical Cases.

Open Air Clinics:

ICM conducted 1,282 Open Air Clinics in 2005/06. These clinics, hosted by the local slum church, are conducted by ICM’s trained nurses and paramedics. Last year, the clinics treated more than 50,000 patients and distributed over 4 million tablets / capsules as well as 2.8 million ls of medical syrup. 1,030 patients were referred for further treatment to doctors who offer their services on a voluntary basis.

Tuberculosis Recovery Shelter:

ICM operates a shelter for tuberculosos (TB) patients in Bago (near Bacolod City in Negros Occidental). Chronic TB patients reside at the shelter for six months, during which they receive TB medication and food to ensure their recovery. They are also given livelihood training such as jewelry making, rice farming and pig raising. The shelter houses twenty-fi e patients at a time. In 2005/06 fifty patients (forty-two adults and eight children) were adopted through the CRS. Fourty-four patients were successfully cured, three failed to complete the treatment, and three died.

Special Medical Cases:

During the course of seeing such a high number of medical patients through its Open Air Clinics, ICM often identifies people with serious medical needs which are beyone the patient’s financial means. ICM coordinates with local surgeons and specialists to address these needs. As a result of the 2005 inagural ICM fund raising banquet, a major change was implemented in the way these Special Medical Cases are funded. During the 2005 banquet, five HK $25,000 Special Medical Case Funds were established. These donated funds over the expenses of Special Medical Cases as they are required throughout the year. Because of the successes of these funds, four additional funds were established during the year.

In the six months from November 2005 to May 2006, seventeen Special Medical Cases were approved totaling HKD $97,500. Treatmetns included reconstructive surgery for burn victims, surgery and therapy for motor vehicle accident victims, chemotherapy for individuals sugfering through cancer, and surgery to correct goiters. The balance of the nine funds at the close of the 2005-2006 fiscal year was HKD $127,500. This amount allowed ICM to continue arranging treatment for Special Medical Cases through October 2006.