More than 1M people to be affected if medical fund gets cut, says bicam panel

Medical Aid Under Threat Over 1M Patients at Risk of Being Affected by Funding Cuts

The recent bicameral conference committee has left the Medical Assistance for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program facing significant changes. The proposed 2026 national budget, initially allocating P49.2 billion to MAIFIP, has been reduced by the Senate to P28 billion. This reduction poses a substantial threat to over one million patients who rely on this program for medical aid.

In 2025, the MAIFIP program benefited approximately 3.3 million patients with a General Appropriations Act (GAA) amount of P41.2 billion. If the revised budget stands, this number would be reduced by 1.1 million, resulting in a substantial impact on those who rely on medical assistance.

We're talking about over one million people who will be affected if we don't adopt the House version [of the MAIFIP 2026 budget], said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Mikaela Suansing. That is how huge the potential impact would be.

Despite this setback, the Bicam has agreed to allocate P51.6 billion to the program, providing a glimmer of hope for those who rely on MAIFIP.

The Importance of MAIFIP in Strengthening Universal Health Care (UHC)

Deputy Speaker Kristine Meehan emphasized that MAIFIP plays a critical role in strengthening the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Program. MAIFIP fills critical gaps where insurance coverage, for example Philhealth's, is insufficient or unavailable, she explained. Maintaining strong MAIFIP funding supports UHC by ensuring that no patient is denied care due to cost.

The Future of Medical Assistance What's Next?

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that medical assistance programs like MAIFIP will play an increasingly important role in providing access to quality healthcare for all. With the Bicam's allocation of P51.6 billion, there is hope for a brighter future where no patient is denied care due to cost.

Key Takeaways

• Over one million patients could be affected by the reduction in medical aid funding.
• The MAIFIP program has undergone significant changes in the proposed 2026 national budget.
• The Bicam has agreed to allocate P51.6 billion to the program, providing a glimmer of hope for those who rely on MAIFIP.
• MAIFIP plays a critical role in strengthening the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Program.

Conversant Insights

As healthcare professionals continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of medical assistance programs, it's essential to stay informed about developments that impact patient care. With the potential reduction in funding for MAIFIP, it's crucial that healthcare providers and policymakers work together to ensure that no patient is denied care due to cost.

Additional Resources

• Philhealth The Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
• MAIFIP Medical Assistance for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients
• UHC Universal Health Care Program

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.