LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Governor Ramon V. Guico III will again enter and sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Health—Ilocos Center for Health Development for the implementation of the Medical Assistance for the Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) Program in 14 provincial government-run hospitals.
Sourced from the funds of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Juan Edgardo Angara, and Grace Poe, the total amount reached more than P83 million. Romualdez committed a hefty amount of P70 million, while Go allocated P14 million. Angara and Poe committed P2 million and P1 million, respectively.
“The Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) Program is a Department of Health program intended to provide financial support to indigent and poor patients seeking medical examination, consultation, treatment, and rehabilitation and those confined in government hospitals,” the resolution authored by Board Member Shiela Marie F. Baniqued and approved on October 7 stated.
The fund will be downloaded to the following 14 government hospitals for its purpose: 1) Asingan Community Hospital, P5,940,000.00; 2) Bayambang District Hospital, P5,107,234.00; 3) Bolinao Community Hospital, P5,940,000.00; 4) Dasol Community Hospital, P5,185,874.00; 5) Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital, P5,198,323.00; 6) Lingayen District Hospital, P5,940,000.00; 7) Manaoag Community Hospital, P5,940,000.00; 8) Mangatarem District Hospital, P5,940,000.00; 9) Mapandan Community Hospital, P5,940,000.00; 10) Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (San Carlos City), P6,930,000.00; 11) Pozorrubio Community Hospital, P5,940,000.00; 12) Umingan Community Hospital, P5,940,000.00; 13) Urdaneta District Hospital, P7,920,000.00; 14) Western Pangasinan District Hospital, P5,940,000.00.
It can be recalled that in the first quarter of 2024, Sen. Go granted a total of P55.4 million MAIFIP Program Fund, which the 14 hospitals utilized.
A patient who is not classified as indigent but demonstrates the inability to pay or spend necessary expenditures for one’s medical treatment may also apply for financial aid under DOH Administrative Order No. 2020-0060.
(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)
