The Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday that four government-run specialty hospitals will receive an additional ₱1 billion under the proposed 2026 national budget to expand public health services.
The funding will go to the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine Heart Center.
The allocation is part of efforts to strengthen Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) services initiated by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa welcomed the additional funding, saying it will help reinforce the Universal Health Care system by expanding access to government hospital services.
As government-owned and controlled corporations, the four hospitals currently maintain a 70% private bed capacity and 30% public.
With the added budget, the DOH said public services—including ZBB—will be expanded, allowing more patients to undergo complex medical procedures without out-of-pocket expenses.
ZBB was first implemented in DOH hospitals following the 2025 State of the Nation Address and benefited more than one million patients before the end of the year.