Groups hit proposed MAIFIP increase, seek bigger PhilHealth budget

MANILA, Philippines — A House budget panel’s move to increase funding for the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program drew criticism on Tuesday, with several groups saying the additional funds should instead be used to strengthen the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Healthcare professionals, budget watchdogs, labor groups and basic sector leaders questioned the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee’s (BARSc) decision to raise the MAIFIP allocation for 2027.

The groups said the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee (BARSc) on Oct. 1 increased the proposed MAIFIP allocation for 2027 from P24 billion to P49 billion.

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The increase came after civil society groups called on Congress to raise the proposed P74-billion allocation for PhilHealth in the 2027 National Expenditure Program.

PhilHealth needs P244 billion in 2027 to cover existing benefits, according to the groups, leaving a P170-billion funding gap based on the proposed P74-billion allocation.

“This proposed P74 billion budget will run dry as early as March 2027,” said Dr. Antonio Dans, convenor of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance After COVID-19.

Dans also noted that the Supreme Court has yet to act on a petition challenging the zero budget given to PhilHealth in 2025.

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He said the government still owes PhilHealth P311 billion from withheld and unappropriated sin taxes and earmarks from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

READ: PhilHealth has P311B in unreleased funds – lawmaker

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“If there are enough resources to double the MAIFIP budget, then why can’t we put those resources into strengthening PhilHealth?” Social Watch Philippines co-convenor Maria Victoria Raquiza said.

The groups called for the abolition of MAIFIP, describing it as a discretionary program that they said undermines healthcare as a human right by requiring Filipinos to seek assistance for medical expenses.

“Let’s prioritize rights-based politics, not patronage politics. When a Filipino falls ill, the first question shouldn’t be, ‘Who can I turn to?’” Raquiza said.

MAIFIP provides financial assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients for hospitalization, medicines, and other medical services. Under the 2026 national budget, the program covers expenses including inpatient and outpatient services, emergency care, medicines and professional fees.

Because the government does not sufficiently fund premiums for indirect contributors, the groups said direct contributors are shouldering healthcare costs.

“As workers, we pay our PhilHealth premiums because we recognize our responsibility to ourselves and to one another. The government should not turn its back on its obligation to fund PhilHealth,” said Public Services Labor Independent Confederation President Annie Enriquez Geron.

The groups also supported proposals to increase health taxes being considered by Congress under the ProGRESS (Promoting Growth, Revenue, and Equity towards Socioeconomic Sustainability) package pushed by the Department of Finance.

They said higher excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sweetened beverages would provide additional funding for universal healthcare while reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases by making harmful products less affordable.

“As senior citizens, we have spent our lives contributing to PhilHealth, believing that it would be there when we need it most. It is exhausting to watch this happen year after year, feeling as if the benefits we worked and paid for are being taken away from us,” said Salvacion Besiano of the National Anti-Poverty Commission Senior Citizen Council.

The groups urged Congress to prioritize PhilHealth funding over what they described as a politicized MAIFIP program as lawmakers finalize the 2027 General Appropriations Bill.

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The BARSc recommendation, however, is not yet final and still has to undergo further deliberation and approval by the House plenary. /cb