Palace orders faster processing of medical aid for poor Filipinos

MANILA — The Office of the President has issued orders to accelerate the Department of Health's handling of applications under the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program, known as Maifip, amid mounting grievances over processing bottlenecks. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto has directed DOH regional directors and participating hospitals to prioritize legitimate claims that have been stalled in the pipeline. The directive comes after reports documented cases of patients waiting several months to receive financial assistance for medical expenses, creating hardship for vulnerable populations seeking hospital treatment. Recto's intervention signals the administration's intent to eliminate bureaucratic delays that have hampered the program's effectiveness in providing timely relief to economically disadvantaged Filipinos requiring medical care. The specifics of the accelerated processing measures are expected to be implemented immediately across DOH facilities nationwide.