The Department of Budget and Management said Monday that the budget for Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIP) rose from P32.6 billion last year to P58 billion this year.

According to government figures, this year's MAIP is 77.91 percent higher than last year's budget. This is to help people who can't pay for or spend the money they need for medical care.

MAIP helps poor and financially unable patients get hospitalized and with their medical bills. It covers a wide range of services, such as in-patient, out-patient, complete check-ups, emergency services, drugs, medicines, professional fees, and more.

The program includes hospitals run by the Department of Health, specialty hospitals, state universities and colleges, local government units, and other health centers, public and private, as long as they follow the DOH's rules.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that the government wanted all Filipinos to be able to get fair and good medical care.

"Among the many things that the pandemic underscored the past few years, not just in the Philippines but all over the world, is our need for equity-focused health care," Pangandaman said.

"Historically, health discrepancies endure among marginalized groups," she added.

The Budget Department also mentioned that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wanted to improve the country's healthcare system and make it easier for Filipinos to get medical help. Both of these goals are important for meeting the administration's social and economic goals.