Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 11, Article XIII of the Philippine Constitution provides that “The State shall 
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor 
to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at 
affordable cost. ” 
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported in 2024 that Household out-of-pocket 
payment had the highest contribution among the health care financing schemes in 2023, while 
Government schemes and compulsory contributory health care financing schemes remain 
second. Furthermore, Household out-of-pocket payment had an increase of 17 percent, 
amounting to Php 1.44 trillion, in 2023, in comparison from its preceding year.  
Majority of Filipinos remain to be financially burdened with medical costs due to 
inaccessibility to government schemes and compulsory contributory health care financing 
schemes, and voluntary health care payment schemes. Unfortunately, it is possible that 
Filipino families who rely on out-of-pocket payment schemes in order to shoulder medical 
costs could eventually lead to financial bankruptcy.  
 While the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients 
(MAIFIP) program allows the government to shoulder health care costs of Filipino patients in 
dire need of assistance, there are still problems faced by this program, such as hospitals’ lack 
of documentary requirements as needed for compliance, and additional requirements asked 
from patients, on top of those provided by the Department of Health (DOH). Furthermore, 
while the MAIFIP is an existing program under the DOH, it has yet to be institutionalized, and 
thus, appropriations for the said program may be removed or placed in danger. 
This proposed measure seeks to institutionalize the MAIFIP program. The passing of 
this measure shall guarantee the funding for the MAIFIP as it shall include the MAIFIP as a 
provision during the yearly general appropriations. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
IVAN HOWARD A. GUINTU 
Representative, 1st District of Capiz 
July 14, 2025
8:02 am
1811


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT AND 
FINANCIALLY INCAPACITATED PATIENTS PROGRAM OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short title. This Act shall be known as the “Medical Assistance to Indigent and 
Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) Act.” 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the 
right to health of the people. It shall improve the health care services and ensure access to and 
efficiency in the process of availing the medical assistance program to indigent patients to 
defray their medical needs. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms are defined as follows: 
(a) Department refers to the Department of Health.
(b) Council refers to the MAIFIP Advisory Council hereinafter created under this Act.
(c) Financially incapacitated patient refers to a patient who is not classified as in
indigent but who demonstrates clear inability to pay or spend for necessary
expenditures for one’s medical treatment, such as patients with catastrophic illness
or any illness, which is life threatening and requires prolonged hospitalization,
extremely expensive therapies or other special but essential care that would deplete
HOUSE BILL NO. 1811


one’s financial resources, as assessed and certified by the Medical Social Worker 
(MSW). 
(d) MAIFIP-Accredited Health Facility refers to government and partner private 
hospitals, clinics, dialysis centers, and other health facilities duly licensed by the 
Department and/or accredited by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, with 
the capacity to subsidize medical assistance expenses and which can comply with 
the documentary and reportorial requirements under the rules and regulations of the 
Program. 
(e) Indigent patient refers to patient who has no visible means of income, or whose 
income is insufficient for the subsistence of his/her family, as assessed by the 
medical social worker of the health facility. 
(f) MAIFIP Beneficiary refers to an indigent or financially incapacitated patient who 
is eligible to receive medical assistance under the MAIFIP. 
(g) Medical Assistance refers to support for drugs, medicines, medical/orthopedic 
devices, dental services, except those that are for aesthetic purposes and not 
medically indicated, diagnostic procedures, blood screening/products, and other 
medically related needs as may be prescribed by the physician of a MAIFIP-
Accredited Health Facility. 
 
SEC 4. The Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program 
(MAIFIP). – The Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients 
Program (MAIFIP), as embodied in Administrative Order No. 202-0060 by the Department is 
hereby established and institutionalized as a regular program of the national government that 
shall provide Medical Assistance to all MAIFIP Beneficiaries in accordance with the criteria 
laid down by the Department and the Council. 
 
SEC 5. Conditions for Eligibility to Receive Medical Assistance. – All MAIFIP Beneficiaries 
shall be eligible for Medical Assistance through any MAIFIP-Accredited Health Facility, 
subject to eligibility and documentary requirements; Provided that, the procedure of availing 
the benefits of this Act shall be simplified to ensure the speedy release of medical assistance. 
 
SEC 6. Advisory Council. – An Advisory Council is hereby created to determine the coverage 
and amounts of medical assistance, documentary requirements for MAIFIP Beneficiaries, rules 
regarding the accreditation, establishment and organizational framework of MAIFIP-


accredited Health Facilities, and other concerns required for the effective implementation of 
this Act, composed of the following: 
a) Secretary of Health, as chairperson; 
b) Secretaries of Budget and Management, Interior and Local Government, and Social 
Welfare and Development, as co-chairpersons; and 
c) Regional Directors of Centers of Health and Development (CHD) of the 
Department, as members. 
The Council shall meet at least once a year for its regular meetings and may call for a 
special meeting in case of extraordinary circumstances which require for the immediate 
adjustment of the amount of assistance and coverage of the Program. The concerned staff 
complement under the Undersecretary of Health Programs of the Department shall act as the 
Secretariat of the Council. 
 
SEC 7. Implementation of the Program. – The Program shall be under the direct control and 
supervision by the Secretary of Health in coordination with officials from its CHDs. 
 
Malasakit Centers created under Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the “Malasakit 
Centers Act,” shall continue to facilitate the provision of medical assistance under the Program 
in all Department Hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital, without prejudice to their 
existing functions and the establishment of additional MAIFIP-Accredited Health Facilities in 
geographical areas without Malasakit Centers. Provided, that all Malasakit Centers and CHDs 
shall be adequately staffed with Program coordinators, medical social workers, and support 
staff. 
 
The Department is hereby authorized to create the required plantilla and staffing pattern 
necessary for the implementation of this Act in coordination with the Department of Budget 
and Management and Civil Service Commission. 
 
SEC 8. Report of the Program. – The Secretary of Health shall annually publish a full report 
of the Program covering its implementation. The report shall be submitted to the President, the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate. 
SEC 9. Transparency Program. – The Department shall regularly and timely post an update 
on its website a report of financial disclosures and information about the Program’s 
beneficiaries based on geographical area, social, economic and cultural circumstances.  


 
SEC 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary of Health, in coordination with 
the members of the Council shall issue the necessary rules and Regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
 
SEC. 11. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act 
shall be charged to the current year’s appropriation of the Department. Thereafter, such sum as 
may be necessary for its continuous implementation shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 12.  Saving Clause. – This Act does not affect rights, duties, and privileges that vested, 
penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date. 
 
SEC 13. Repealing Clause. All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC 14.  Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved.