Manila, Dec. 15 -- Malacanang on Monday said the proposed increase in funding for the Medical Assistance for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) aims to expand zero balance billing and improve access to healthcare services, particularly in local government unit (LGU) hospitals.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of Health (DOH) is pushing to raise the MAIFIP budget to better address zero balance billing requirements, including in hospitals not directly under the DOH.

"May mga ospital po dito na hindi po kaugnay ng DOH hospitals at nais pong palawakin pa ang serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan po ng pagbibigay din po ng zero balance billing sa LGU hospitals (There are hospitals that ar...