Palace orders DOH to expedite MAIFIP claims processing

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has directed the Department of Health (DOH) to fast-track the processing of legitimate claims under the agency’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto directed DOH regional directors and participating hospitals to verify accounts payable and promptly process valid claims under the program.

“Let us continue coordinating with the regional directors, verify the accounts payable, and process the valid claims promptly. These funds are available to support our patients and our partner hospitals,” Recto said in a statement on Saturday.

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The directive was issued to ensure that government assistance is converted into actual medical support for patients, and to help hospitals maintain uninterrupted services, particularly for vulnerable and low-income communities.

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“For President Marcos, every available resource must be used to deliver meaningful assistance to the Filipino people. Through MAIFIP, we are helping patients obtain the care they need while supporting hospitals that serve communities every day,” Recto said.

MAIFIP funds will be utilized to support valid claims for essential healthcare services, including hospitalization, medicines, emergency treatment, professional fees, and other necessary medical expenses.

Malacañang’s directive came following the release by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of P27.4 billion to the DOH for the continued implementation of MAIFIP.

READ: DBM releases P27.4B for DOH program for indigents

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Of the total allocation, P19.145 billion will be distributed to the DOH Centers for Health Development to extend medical assistance through regional networks and partner healthcare facilities nationwide.

Another P4.353 billion shall support DOH hospitals in Metro Manila and the regions.

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Another P2.910 billion will be allocated to the Lung Center of the Philippines, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine Heart Center.

The University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital shall also receive P950 million, while P52 million will be earmarked for drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers.

DOH’s MAIFIP program received a funding of P51.6 billion under the 2026 national budget, a 25-percent increase from the P41.16 billion funding last year.

For 2027, however, the DBM proposes a significantly lower allocation for MAIFIP at only P24.2 billion.

Budget watchdogs have flagged the ballooning MAIFIP, calling it a “soft pork barrel” for legislators and a tool for political patronage.

They were instead pushing for the government to increase its subsidies for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to benefit all Filipinos, regardless of socioeconomic class.

READ: Solon pushes for bigger DOH budget in 2027 after massive cuts

Under the 2026 guidelines issued by the DOH, politician-endorsed guarantee letters are no longer needed to access MAIFIP.

Eligible beneficiaries may apply for MAIFIP through the eGov PH website or mobile application. The DOH said approval processing may only take days, but incomplete documents may delay it.

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Some family members of patients confined in government hospitals and specialty centers, however, complained on social media that their MAIFIP application took a few months. /gsg