By Sam Ramos
The Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) announced on Tuesday that it will extend its medical services to Bangsamoro residents living outside the region through its Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program (MAIFIPP).
Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, BARMM Health Minister, confirmed that the program now includes both public and private hospitals outside the region, as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure broader access to health care for its constituents.
“We are grateful to these hospitals. We have partnered with 31 public and 21 private hospitals to provide assistance to those in need,” said Sinolinding, who is also an ophthalmologist and a member of the BARMM parliament.
The program, which collaborates with 52 partner hospitals, aims to provide continuous medical support for indigent and financially incapacitated Bangsamoro patients, regardless of their location.
In addition to serving the general public, the program also benefits decommissioned Moro combatants and their families. “Our medical assistance is designed to protect and preserve the lives of every Bangsamoro,” Sinolinding added.
Between September 2022 and September 2023, the MAIFIPP facilitated 119, 877 admissions and outpatient consultations.
Baby Norbaina Caludtiag, head of BARMM’s Malasakit Program Unit, emphasized that all eligible clients can access services at partner hospitals by submitting the required documentation to the hospital’s social workers.