‘Kalinga hospitals to receive ₱60-M MAIFIP fund’ - Governor Edduba announces DOH approved allocation for the province

Allocation to be distributed among six hospitals to help indigent and financially incapacitated patients

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Kalinga is set to receive ₱60 million in Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) funds, which will be distributed among six hospitals in the province.

During the Kapehan meeting on October 5, Governor James S. Edduba reported that the Department of Health (DOH) had approved the ₱60-million MAIFIP allocation for Kalinga, with an initial ₱10 million allotted to each of the six hospitals, including the Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH), Juan M. Duyan Memorial District Hospital and Kalinga District Hospital.

In an interview with Guru Press on October 6, KPH Supervising Administrative Officer Raymond Palicas emphasized the importance of the MAIFIP fund in helping patients who cannot afford additional medical expenses.

Palicas said the fund can prevent patients from having to shoulder the full cost of medical services that cannot be provided by KPH.

“Dakkel talaga iti maitulong na… nu awan dituy ket i-send out mi. Nu awan ti MAIFIP fund ket kapilitan i-shoulder ti pasyente diyay expenses, ket another burden manen idjay pasyente diyay. Isu diyay iti advantage na,” Palicas said.

He explained that MAIFIP funds cannot be used for procurement and are instead intended to cover medical services that the hospital cannot provide.

Patients may be referred to other DOH-accredited or authorized partner hospitals for services unavailable at KPH, with the cost covered through the MAIFIP fund, subject to applicable guidelines.

Palicas cited laboratory services as an example, saying patients requiring tests unavailable at KPH may be referred to a partner hospital rather than being required to personally pay for the service.

He stressed that the fund is governed by guidelines that prohibit hospitals from using it to purchase supplies or equipment.

“Adda ngay ti guidelines na nga that fund ket strictly, it's not intended for the procurement purposes. Haan mabalin usaren ti hospital nga paggatang,” he said.

Instead, hospitals may contract or coordinate with authorized DOH-accredited facilities to provide services that are unavailable in their own facilities, with the expenses paid through MAIFIP.

“So that it will be paid through MAIFIP… kasjay ka transparent,” Palicas added.

The additional allocation is expected to strengthen Kalinga hospitals’ capacity to assist indigent and financially incapacitated patients, particularly those who require medical services unavailable in their respective hospitals.

The fund will also help ensure that eligible patients can access necessary services through authorized partner facilities without having to shoulder the full cost themselves.