The Department of Health (DOH) welcomed the release of P27.41 billion by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program (MAIFIP).
The release of the funds, under this year’s General Appropriations Act, will ensure the continuous delivery of critical health services to vulnerable Filipinos.
“The Department of Health warmly welcomes the release of P27.41B from the DBM for the MAIFIP,” it said in a statement. “This fund will enable us to continuously address the needs of our countrymen with the most critical health needs.”
The DOH said majority of the allocation will be distributed through its Centers for Health Development (CHD) to guarantee wider healthcare coverage beyond Metro Manila.
Earlier, the DBM said about P19.145 billion will go to CHDs to support the delivery of medical assistance through partner local government hospitals, privately-owned institutions and other health facilities.
Meanwhile, P4.353 billion will be allocated to DOH hospitals in Metro Manila and the regions; P2.910 billion to the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Philippine Heart Center; P950 million to University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital; and P52 million to drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers.
To streamline access and accelerate the processing of medical aid, the agency said it is continuously enhancing digital access to the program via the government’s centralized mobile application. ||
