Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that the new administrative order it is drafting on medical assistance will bring clarity and ease of access for patients, instead of causing further confusion.

Hontiveros said the revised guidelines on the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Persons (MAIFIP) should not only put an end to patronage politics, as mandated by a provision in the proposed 2026 national budget, but should also clearly define the procedures and requirements for availing of financial aid.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Hontiveros emphasized that the revision of the MAIFIP guidelines must ultimately make it easier for patients to receive assistance.

“Klaro ang naging desisyon namin sa Senado at House: Hindi na dapat mag-door-to-door pa sa mga opisina ng pulitiko para manlimos ng guarantee letters para lang makapagpagamot (Our decision in the Senate and the House was clear: patients should no longer have to go door-to-door to politicians’ offices and beg for guarantee letters just to be able to get medical treatment),” Hontiveros said.

She added that the DOH must ensure that the new rules will simplify, rather than complicate, access to aid. 

“Kaya inaasahan ko na klaro din sa DOH na ang bagong guidelines na ilalabas nila tungkol sa MAIFIP ay dapat magpadali sa pagkuha ng tulong at hindi lalong magpahirap sa mga pasyente at kanilang pamilya (That is why I expect the DOH to be equally clear that the new MAIFIP guidelines they will issue should make it easier to obtain assistance and not make things harder for patients and their families),” she said.

Hontiveros also stressed that reforms introduced in the 2026 budget, including the so-called “anti-epal” provision authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, should be sustained beyond the current fiscal year.

To institutionalize these reforms, Hontiveros said she is ready to begin interpellations on Senate Bill (SB) 1593, or the proposed Universal Health Care Medical Assistance Program (UHC MAP), which seeks to provide financial assistance directly to hospitals and patients.

“Kapag naipasa ang batas na ito, klaro na hindi na kailangan pang manghingi ang mga pasyente ng GL sa mga pulitiko. Mag-a-apply na lang sila sa mga medical social workers sa ospital at mabibigyan sila ng tulong sa loob ng 72 hours (Once this bill is passed, it will be clear that patients will no longer need to ask politicians for guarantee letters. They will simply apply through medical social workers in hospitals and receive assistance within 72 hours),” she said.

Hontiveros reiterated her call to end the practice of seeking guarantee letters from politicians, stressing that medical assistance should be given directly to those who need it. 

“Tuldukan na natin ang panlilimos para sa GL. Ang tulong na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan para sa pagpapagamot ay dapat ibigay diretso sa kanila (Let us put an end to begging for guarantee letters. The medical assistance our people need should be given directly to them),” she said.

“Lahat ng nangangailangan, dapat mabigyan ng tulong. Walang kapalit. Walang kondisyon. Walang palakasan (All those in need should receive help—no strings attached, no conditions, no favoritism),”