Patients at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and other public hospitals may have their attending physicians’ professional fees covered through guarantee letters under the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.

Under Administrative Order No. 2025-0011, the MAIFIP fund may be used to pay for “clinically indicated” professional fees, medicines, lab procedures, surgeries, and other prescribed health services. However, this assistance only applies after other deductions have been exhausted, such as PhilHealth, senior citizen or PWD discounts and other government aid. The remaining balance may then be covered by MAIFIP, subject to fund availability.

The level of approval for professional fees depends on the amount being requested. Heads of local government hospitals are authorized to approve assistance up to P250,000 per transaction. For selected public and private health facilities, including dialysis centers and laboratories, the ceiling is P500,000.