DSWD AICS Medical Assistance: Requirements and Guarantee Letter

What DSWD AICS medical assistance is

AICS is a DSWD programme that gives short-term help to individuals and families going through a crisis. Medical assistance is one of its main types. It can cover hospital bills, medicines, laboratory tests and other treatments or procedures. If your family is facing cancer treatment, it is one of the government programmes you can ask for help with the cost of medicines.

The help comes either as cash or as a guarantee letter. DSWD describes a guarantee letter as a document it issues in the patient's favour and addresses to a service provider, guaranteeing that DSWD will pay for the service on the patient's behalf. A DSWD social worker decides on the help based on their assessment.

The rules on cash and GLs have changed several times. In early January 2026, for example, DSWD resumed issuing GLs for medical and burial assistance while direct cash aid stayed on hold until 2026 funds were released. When you apply, ask the office what form of help is available.

Who can apply

DSWD describes AICS beneficiaries as individuals and families who are indigent, vulnerable, disadvantaged or otherwise in a crisis situation, as assessed by a social worker. Whether you qualify is decided during the interview. A serious illness like cancer, and the cost of its medicines, can be that kind of crisis.

In May 2026 the director of DSWD's Crisis Intervention Program said AICS is not only for the poor, because a crisis can affect families of any income. In the end, the social worker's assessment decides whether you qualify and how much help you get, so apply even if you are unsure.

The patient does not have to go in person. An immediate family member can usually apply for them without an authorisation letter. Anyone else usually needs an authorisation letter signed by the patient and a photocopy of the patient's ID.

Documents usually asked for

Each DSWD office publishes its own list, but for medicines the documents are similar everywhere. Medical documents are usually valid for only three months, so get recent ones. They should show the doctor's full name, signature and licence number. Check that the patient's name is spelled the same way on every document, because mistakes can delay your request.

Bring the originals and at least two photocopies of each document. Some offices ask for a social case study report for larger requests. A certificate of indigency or a treatment protocol is not always required, but some offices and cancer support groups list them, so ask before you go.

• Prescription from the treating doctor, dated and showing the patient's name and the doctor's licence number
• Clinical (medical) abstract or medical certificate signed by the doctor
• Price quotation from the pharmacy or supplier, if the office asks for one; for chemotherapy given in hospital or for laboratory tests, a cost estimate or charge slip is usually needed
• At least one valid ID of the patient, plus the representative's ID if someone else is applying
• Authorisation letter if the person applying is not an immediate family member
• Barangay certificate of indigency, if the office asks for it
• Social case study report from the city or municipal social welfare office or a hospital medical social worker, where asked
• Treatment protocol from the oncologist, if you have one or the office asks for it

Where to apply

You can go to the DSWD field office in your region, usually its Crisis Intervention Unit or Section, or to a DSWD satellite office. Your city or municipal social welfare office can tell you where the nearest DSWD office is and when it is open.

If the patient is treated at a government hospital, look for a Malasakit Center. Under the Malasakit Centers Act (Republic Act No. 11463), every DOH hospital and the Philippine General Hospital must have one, and other public hospitals may set one up if they meet the standards. It is a one-stop shop: DOH, DSWD and PCSO representatives process requests for medical and financial help, and a PhilHealth representative helps you use your benefits.

The law covers indigent patients and patients who are not classified as indigent but cannot afford needed care, as certified by a medical social worker. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities have their own lane, and Malasakit Center services are free of charge.

How a DSWD guarantee letter is used at a pharmacy or supplier

A GL is not cash. It is addressed to a specific service provider, such as a hospital, pharmacy or medicine supplier, and states what DSWD will pay for. You bring the GL to that provider, which releases the medicines covered by the letter. DSWD then pays the provider.

Before you leave the DSWD office, check that the GL names the provider you will actually buy from, matches the medicines on the prescription and is spelled correctly. DSWD has agreements with partner hospitals, medical suppliers and pharmacies. Participating drugstore branches post a sign saying they accept DSWD GLs. Ask the field office for its current list of partners, and ask the provider whether it accepts GLs from your field office.

If the GL does not cover the full cost, ask the provider how the balance will be handled before the medicines are released. Also ask how long the GL is valid, so it does not expire while you wait for stock.

• Get the quotation from a provider that accepts DSWD GLs, so the letter can be addressed to them
• Keep copies of the GL, prescription and abstract for your records and for other programmes
• Bring a valid ID when you claim the medicines

Tips for families paying for cancer medicines

Cancer treatment often runs in cycles, so many families need help more than once. Ask the social worker how soon you can apply again, and keep your documents up to date. DSWD is only one source of help. PCSO, the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, PhilHealth and local government offices also have assistance programmes, and the Philippine Cancer Society keeps a list of where to ask. Our financial assistance guide explains how these programmes fit together.

2MG Inc. is an accredited provider for guarantee letters from DSWD, PCSO, the Office of the Vice President and the Office of the President, and can issue an official price quotation for your application. A pharmacist checks every prescription. To see costs, check our price list, or contact us before you apply so your quotation and GL match what you will order.