The Department of Health (DOH) expects to finalize guidelines for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program by mid-February, ensuring patients in DOH-run hospitals no longer need guarantee letters from politicians.
The P51-billion MAIFIP budget covers hospital costs for eligible beneficiaries under the zero-balance billing policy, which allows patients to be discharged without out-of-pocket expenses for PhilHealth-covered services.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasized that guarantee letters are only issued to private hospitals under DOH agreements and that politicians have no role in the distribution of aid.
The 2026 budget includes provisions barring political influence in implementing programs, aiming to curb patronage.
Meanwhile, critics raised concerns over dependency on politicians, but Malacañang and DOH assured the program is fully government-managed and in line with universal health care goals.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 8, 2026
