MALACAÑANG said the Department of Health (DOH) will implement the Medical Assistance for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients or MAIFIPP to insulate it from politics while expanding its coverage.
According to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, the plan of the DOH is to increase the budget for MAIFIPP next year to implement the zero-balance billing policy in hospitals under local government units (LGUs).
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced during his Fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28 that the government is implementing a zero-balance billing policy to ease the financial burden on patients.
The zero-balance billing policy guarantees full coverage of the medical expenses of patients in basic or ward accommodation in DOH hospitals.
“May mga ospital dito na hindi kaugnay ng DOH hospitals at nais palawakin pa ang serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay din ng zero balance billing sa LGU hospitals,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing on Monday.
“Hindi kasi dadaan sa mga politiko ang pondo na ito. Didiretso ito sa local government units, sa LGU hospitals, at ang magpapatupad din nito ay DOH,” Castro added.
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