House bill seeks P10 million per district medical aid for needy soldiers

MANILA, Philippines — A Mindanao lawmaker has filed a bill that will require the Department of Health (DOH) to set aside P10 million per legislative district from its annual budget for cash-strapped soldiers and other uniformed personnel, including their dependents, who need medical assistance.

Under Zamboanga City Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso’s House Bill (HB) No. 11216, or Military and Uniformed Personnel Medical Assistance Act, the money will be taken from the DOH’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients, or MAIFIP (previously MAIP) program.

“Military and uniformed personnel, both active and retired, often face significant financial challenges in accessing necessary medical care. These challenges are compounded for those who are indigent or whose incomes are insufficient to cover medical expenses,” Olaso said.

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While there were programs aimed at providing medical assistance to indigent patients, there was a need to ensure that a “dedicated allocation is available for the military and uniformed personnel sector,” according to him.

Equitable access

“By directing the DOH to allocate these funds, the bill ensures equitable and consistent access to medical support across all legislative districts,” Olaso said. As of 2021, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the country had 253 legislative districts.

The lawmaker added that the P10 million under MAIFIP per district would provide much-needed relief and assistance in times of medical hardship to uniformed personnel who have served in roles critical to national security, disaster response, and public safety.

“By easing their financial burdens related to health care, this [bill] upholds the State’s commitment to promoting the welfare and dignity of its defenders and their families,” he said.

Beneficiaries under HB 11216 include “active and retired military and uniformed personnel who are indigent or financially incapacitated, as well as their immediate dependents.”

The bill also tasks the DOH to work with the Department of National Defense, Philippine National Police, and other relevant agencies in crafting the implementing guidelines.