Lawmakers are calling for the expansion of the P17-billion Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) by extending coverage of financial assistance to indigent patients hospitalized in private medical institutions in Metro Manila.

Presiding over a meeting of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, Manila Rep. Manuel Luis T. Lopez said making MAIP available in private hospitals in Metro Manila has become necessary because the area has been worst hit by the effects of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID 19) pandemic.

Lopez noted that MAIP is being made available in “certain cases” in Metro Manila but there might be a need to expand the program to cover more poor patients.

He lauded the Department of Health for its effective implementation of the program, saying that many of his constituents in Tondo were granted access to the MAIP.

Lopez, chairman of the Metro Manila Development panel, said he called for a briefing on the MAIP’s implementation because this is part of the oversight functions of Congress.

He pointed out that a review of MAIP’s rollout has become imperative due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

“With Congress significantly raising the program’s allocation from 10.5 Billion Pesos in 2020 to 17 Billion Pesos for FY 2021, MAIP stands to do a lot of good for a populace reeling from unemployment, rising prices, and the effects of the pandemic,” said Lopez.

“It is important that we have this program also available to private hospitals because there are times when it is necessary: for highly complicated cases that require specialist physicians and equipment only available in some private hospitals and in cases for example, you get into a vehicular accident and where stabilising the patient is time essential, it becomes imperative that you go to the nearest hospital,” Lopez expained.

He added: “What is crucial and important is we ensure that this program is free from abuse. Safeguards must be put in place to ensure the integrity of the program.”
 During the meeting, Director Gloria Balboa of the Metro Manila Center for Health Development-DOH ,said that the MAIP is being implemented by the DOH in accordance with the special provisions of the General Appropriations Act.

Balboa explained that the MAIP program provides support for medicines, medical and or orthopedic devices, dental services (except those that are for aesthetic purposes and not medically indicated) or other medically related needs prescribed by the physician of a health facility for in-patients and out-patients, in excess of the packages/case rates covered by Philhealth or other financing sources subject to the availability of funds.