A bill seeking to institutionalize the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) has been endorsed by Senate committees for plenary approval despite criticism that it functions as a healthcare pork barrel.
Senate Bill No. 1593, or the proposed Universal Healthcare Medical Assistance Program Act, consolidates several MAIFIP measures and integrates the program into the Universal Health Care system with annual national budget funding.
Lawmakers have approved PHP51.6 billion for MAIFIP in the 2026 budget, higher than the PHP24.2 billion proposed by the executive, even as medical groups called for its abolition.
The bill aims to provide financial aid to indigent and financially incapacitated patients who cannot afford costly medical treatment despite exhausting available coverage.
It also creates a Department of Health-managed trust fund, sets eligibility certification by social workers, and establishes an appeals process for denied applications.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 23, 2025
