Manila, April 2 -- The Silliman University Medical Center Foundation, Inc. (SUMCFI) on Wednesday assured the public that the suspension of the government's Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program is temporary.

SUMCFI president Fredita Tan and officer-in-charge vice president for financial services Charmaine Concepcion said during a press conference that the MAIFIP has to be suspended effective April 1 to avoid compromising the hospital's operations amid the Department of Health's (DOH) outstanding debt.

"We have already written and talked to the DOH Region 7 (Central Visayas) who assured us that in about two weeks' time, we will receive the payment from them as the money is ready for downlo...