Hospitals that accept medical assistance in the Philippines (2026 list)

If you are asking for medical assistance in the Philippines, the hospital matters as much as the program. Help from the DOH (MAIFIP), PCSO, DSWD and the Office of the President is mostly used at government hospitals: DOH hospitals, government specialty centers like the Philippine Heart Center and NKTI, and provincial or city hospitals with a Malasakit Center. Some private hospitals accept it too, but only if they have an agreement with that specific program. This guide lists the major hospitals where medical assistance is commonly used, what it usually pays for, and what to do before you go. There is no deadline; you apply while the patient is being treated or before the bill is settled.

Last checked: October 12, 2026, against DOH Administrative Order 2026-0031 (MAIFIP guidelines), the PhilHealth Malasakit Center list, the DOH hospital directory and the PCSO Medical Access Program page. Hospital lists and program rules can change, so always confirm with the hospital before you go.

Big change in 2026: guarantee letters from politicians

Under the 2026 national budget, elected officials can no longer take part in giving out DOH medical aid like MAIFIP. The DOH said patients in its hospitals do not need a guarantee letter (GL) from a senator, congressman or party-list to get MAIFIP help, and DOH hospitals now use zero balance billing for patients admitted in basic or ward rooms. You can still ask your lawmakers for help, and some offices still issue letters, but at a DOH hospital the Malasakit Center or Medical Social Service can process your assistance directly.

Guarantee letters from agencies are still common. PCSO issues GLs to its partner hospitals, pharmacies and dialysis centers, and the DOH may still use GLs for private hospitals it has an agreement with.

Which hospitals usually accept medical assistance

• DOH hospitals. About 87 DOH-run hospitals nationwide. Most have a Malasakit Center and offer zero balance billing in basic or ward rooms.
• Government specialty hospitals. Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center, NKTI and Philippine Children’s Medical Center. They are government corporations and accept DOH, PCSO and DSWD help through their social service offices.
• Hospitals with a Malasakit Center. These include PGH, Veterans Memorial and many provincial and city hospitals. A Malasakit Center puts the PhilHealth, DOH, PCSO and DSWD desks in one place.
• Provincial, city and state university hospitals. Many have agreements with the DOH regional office (Center for Health Development) for MAIFIP, and with PCSO.
• Accredited private hospitals. Only if they have a signed agreement with the program you are using. A private hospital that accepts PCSO may not accept a DSWD or DOH letter, and the reverse is also true.

📌 Read also: Senators’ medical assistance contact list 2026: emails and local numbers

Metro Manila hospitals

Hospitals in the provinces

These are major DOH regional hospitals. Your own provincial or city hospital may also have a Malasakit Center, so ask there first if it is closer.

36 hospitals listed. This is not a complete list, and lists change. Call the hospital’s Medical Social Service or Malasakit Center to confirm which programs they accept before you go.

What medical assistance usually covers

• Hospital bill for confinement, after PhilHealth is deducted
• Medicines prescribed by your doctor, including some outside the hospital pharmacy
• Laboratory tests, X-ray, CT scan, MRI and other diagnostics
• Procedures and operations
• Dialysis and chemotherapy
• Implants and medical devices, sometimes, such as stents, pacemakers or orthopedic implants (usually needs quotations)
• Doctors’ professional fees, under MAIFIP

What is usually not covered

• Private or semi-private rooms (zero balance billing applies only to basic or ward rooms)
• Treatment only in the emergency room or outpatient department under zero balance billing; ask the Malasakit Center about other help for these
• A private doctor you choose yourself in a government hospital
• Cosmetic or aesthetic procedures
• Bills already paid (most programs do not reimburse)
• Private hospitals without an agreement with the program

How to get help at the hospital

1. Go to the Malasakit Center or Medical Social Service office as soon as the patient is admitted. Do not wait for discharge.
2. Let PhilHealth be applied first. All Filipinos are PhilHealth members under the Universal Health Care Act. If not registered, the hospital’s PhilHealth desk can enroll you.
3. Get assessed by the social worker. They check your situation and route you to the DOH (MAIFIP), PCSO and DSWD desks for the remaining balance.
4. Submit documents. Usually a valid ID, medical abstract or clinical summary, statement of account, prescriptions and quotations. The social worker will tell you the exact list.
5. For PCSO outside a Malasakit Center, apply online through the PCSO Medical Access Program, then bring the printed GL and documents to the partner hospital.

📌 Read also: DSWD medical assistance (AICS) 2026: requirements and step-by-step guide

Tips

• Call the hospital’s Medical Social Service first and ask: “Do you accept MAIFIP, PCSO, DSWD or Office of the President assistance here?”
• Stay in a basic or ward room if you want zero balance billing at a DOH hospital.
• Ask for an updated statement of account; most programs need one dated within the last few days.
• Keep photocopies of everything, and bring the patient’s and representative’s IDs.
• For a private hospital, get a written acceptance from the hospital before you request a GL.
• Do not pay fixers. Assistance is free.

📌 Read also: How to apply for medical assistance on the eGovPH app (2026 step-by-step guide)

Questions people ask

Do I still need a guarantee letter from a senator or party-list in 2026?

Not for DOH assistance at DOH hospitals. The Malasakit Center can process it directly. Some lawmakers’ offices still help patients; see our senators’ medical assistance contact list, party-list medical assistance directory and Senate guarantee letter explainer.

Is PGH a DOH hospital?

No. PGH is run by the University of the Philippines Manila, but it has a Malasakit Center and accepts DOH, PCSO and DSWD assistance.

Can I use medical assistance in a private hospital?

Only if the hospital has an agreement with that program. Ask the hospital’s billing or social service office before you apply.

What is zero balance billing?

At DOH hospitals, patients admitted in basic or ward rooms pay nothing out of pocket for room, doctors, labs, medicines and procedures. It does not cover private rooms or ER-only and outpatient visits.

Can Malacañang assistance be used in any hospital?

Office of the President help is usually addressed to government hospitals and accredited partners. See our Malacañang PACe medical assistance guide for the documents.

How do I know if my provincial hospital has a Malasakit Center?

Call the hospital or check the DOH Malasakit Program and your DOH regional office. Most DOH regional hospitals and many provincial hospitals have one.

Source

DOH: Department of Health, https://doh.gov.ph/. Malasakit Center list (PhilHealth): https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/partners/providers/facilities/accredited/MALASAKIT_122021.pdf. PCSO Medical Access Program: https://pcso-gov.ph/ProgramsAndServices/CAD/MedicalAccessProgram.html. DSWD AICS: https://www.dswd.gov.ph/.

Pilipinas Guide is not the DOH, PCSO, DSWD or any hospital and does not accept applications.