Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Monday expressed support for Senator Erwin Tulfo’s suggestion to utilize the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFP) fund for the procurement of medicines and medical devices for patients in need.

“Ito po ay isang magandang mungkahi at ako po ay sumasang-ayon sa ganitong legislation para maisabatas at mapabilis ang pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga nangangailangan (This is a good proposal, and I agree with this kind of legislation so that aid can be enacted into law and delivered more quickly to those in need),” he said in a video message aired over Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

Last week, Tulfo made the suggestion after raising concern that the Department of Health (DOH) may have depleted its funds under the program, as some private hospitals in Batangas are suspending acceptance of guarantee letters due to unpaid claims.

He said Congress has approved “sufficient funding” for the MAIFP program.

Herbosa assured the public that DOH is continuously improving the delivery of health care assistance, especially in private hospitals wherein the issue sometimes is on documentation, not the funds.

“Nandiyan po ang funds. Andito ako ngayon sa DBM [Department of Budget and Management], at basta may documentation nababayaran naman po ang ating mga ospital (The funds are available. I’m currently at the DBM, and as long as the documentation is complete, our hospitals do get paid),” he said.

In February 2025, Tulfo proposed House Bill No. 11444. Under this proposal, the funds would no longer be requested through the Congress but would instead be directly managed by the DOH to cover hospital maintenance and other operating expenses, including the purchase of medicines and medical equipment.

The DOH sees this as a more efficient allocation of resources, reducing delays in the delivery of healthcare services in hospitals and healthcare facilities. (PNA)