THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said there is no shortage of funds for indigent patients who present guarantee letters (GL) to settle their medical bills.
In a video statement, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa assured Sen. Erwin Tulfo, “There is no shortage of funds. The funds are available.”
He said that what is usually lacking are documents from indigent patients.
“But as long as there is sufficient documentation, the hospitals are getting paid,” said Herbosa.
The health chief issued the statement after Tulfo asked if the DOH still has enough funding for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (Maifip) Program.
In a related development, Herbosa said they are in favor of moves to institutionalize the use of funds for indigent patients in hospitals.
According to the health chief, they are in full support of the bill initially filed by Tulfo during his stint as ACT-CIS party-list representative.
“It was a good proposal and we fully agree with this proposed legislation so that we can expedite the provision of assistance to indigent patients,” said Herbosa.
This was seconded by DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, who said the measure will help cut short the processing of medical assistance.
“It will greatly help since the expenses for medicine or equipment use will have guaranteed funding, instead of needing these guarantee letters,” said Domingo in a televised public briefing.
