Tulfo wants to institutionalize use of funds for indigent patients
The facade of the Philippine Heart Center | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of the Philippine Heart Center
MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is pushing for a bill seeking to require the Department of Health (DOH) to fund medicines and medical equipment in public hospitals using the funds for indigent patients.
Tulfo said under the bill, which will be filed this week, the DOH shall use the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) fund to provide medicines and medical equipment to public hospitals.
In a statement on Sunday, Tulfo said the proposed measure, titled the “Universal Medical Access and Equipment Act of 2025,” aims to address shortages of essential medical supplies in government healthcare facilities through the MAIFIP.
“The common complaint of our citizens is that medicines are unavailable, and public hospitals lack essential medical equipment,” Tulfo said in Filipino.
“We want this proposed law to guarantee that medicines and medical equipment are always available in public hospitals and can be accessed for free, especially by our underprivileged citizens,” he added.
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Under the bill, the DOH will be mandated to ensure that all public hospitals are equipped with essential medical devices, including X-ray, ultrasound, and ECG machines.
Tulfo said shortages in medicines and equipment force many financially struggling patients to delay or forgo medical care, leading to worsening health conditions and higher expenses.
“This bill is not merely about providing medicines and equipment; it is about strengthening the entire public healthcare system and ensuring that every Filipino, regardless of financial status or location, has access to quality medical care,” he added.
The bill is co-authored by ACT-CIS Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo.
