ON THE heels of the arrest of an individual allegedly selling medical assistance guarantee letters, the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, December 20, assured the public that the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patient (MAIP) comes for free.

In a statement, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said the public can get a guarantee letter for medical assistance without having to pay for it.

"We appeal to the public, especially clients seeking for medical assistance with DOH, that they should not be swayed by sweet-talking fixers out to exact money from them in exchange for guarantee letters," said Duque.

"The Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients is free and not for sale,” he added.

Duque issued the statement after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended a certain Hubert Lotino, an alleged fixer of DOH-issued guarantee letters.

He said the DOH had asked the NBI to help apprehend the alleged fixers preying on poor and indigent patients.

The DOH has also been conducting its own internal investigation since the reports of the scheme surfaced, he added.

"The DOH assures the public that no stone will be left unturned in identifying and making accountable the persons involved in this vile and horrendous scheme," Duque said. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)