CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Over 95,000 patients have already benefited from the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program of the Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas.
DOH-7 regional director Dr. Jaime S. Bernadas shared during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas that MAIFIP started as the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients before it was expanded to include not only the indigents but those who are financially incapacitated as well.
“Nagsugod ni siya purely sa atong indigent support apan tungod nga nagkadaghan ang nagkahinanglan sa maong assistance, atong gi-expand ni sya sa gitawag nato nga financially incapacitated,” Bernadas said.
(This program started purely for the indigents, but because more people are in need of that assistance, we expanded it to include the financially incapacitated.)
Since its expansion in 2022 until May 2024, records show that 95,370 patients have already been provided with financial assistance under MAIFIP.
During this period, DOH has also disbursed more than P1 billion to help patients with their medical expenses.
MAIFIP is aligned with the Action Agenda 1 of the 8-Point Agenda Health, ‘Bawat Pilipino, randam ang kalusugan’ (Every Filipino experiences health and well being) which ensures that Filipinos, regardless of financial status, will receive medical care.
Bernadas explained that the expanded program now covers employees both in government and private sectors.
“Dili mana sila matawag nato og indigents pero panahon sa emergency, wala ta maka establish og savings para niana. Busa, at the time of emergency, atong mga empleyado, ilabi na ang mga middle income group, mahimo sab na sila nga mga indigents,” Bernadas said.
(We can’t call them indigents, but during health emergencies, they have no established savings for that. So in times of emergencies, our employees, especially those in the middle income group, can also become indigent.)
The medical financial assistance can also be availed in either private or public hospitals that have engaged in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DOH.
Bernadas said they have already signed a MOA with most of the Level 2 hospitals in Cebu.
They are also eyeing to partner with Level 1 hospitals that are located in remote areas.
Financial assistance can reach up to P1 million depending on the need and the availability of funds.
To avail of the financial assistance, patients will need to coordinate with the social worker in the hospital for referral to MAIFIP coordinators.
Once approved, the patient will be given a letter of guarantee from DOH.
DOH Central Visayas Center for Health Development was the featured agency for the 4th episode of the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” program, a new platform initiated by the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
The activity serves as a platform to enhance public understanding and engagement with the national government’s programs and projects through the different government agencies.
Watch the full episode here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/U3fhhn4rGVVaDhg1/ (JJT/PIA7)
