The national government is bumping up allocations for state-run hospitals and cancer treatment facilities in the proposed 2027 national budget, part of a broader drive to broaden public healthcare access and relieve medical expenses for patients nationwide.
Under the proposed spending plan, ₱107.29 billion has been earmarked for 72 Department of Health (DOH) regional hospitals and facility networks — a ₱1.3-billion increase compared to the 2026 funding.
The bulk of the additional allocation will go toward Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), allowing medical facilities to supply essential medicines, cover operational gaps, and improve tertiary care services.
The funds will also help sustain the administration’s Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) initiative, which guarantees that eligible patients incur no out-of-pocket expenses for covered hospital services.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized that the budget expansion is aimed directly at upgrading basic healthcare services.
“Our national budget serves as our moral and economic compass. It must always point toward making life better for our people,” Marcos said in his 2027 budget message to Congress.
“This reflects our unwavering commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous nation… It is a strategic investment in the Filipino people and in our country’s future,” he added.
Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon highlighted that the boosted funding will benefit patients living outside the capital.
“This means more Filipinos can access quality healthcare closer to home, while those requiring highly specialized treatment continue to receive world-class care in our major public hospitals,” De Leon said.
Direct financial aid for patients will also see significant increases:
- PhilHealth Funding: Proposed at ₱74.45 billion, with beneficiary coverage expected to expand to 11.09 million in 2027 from 10.65 million, alongside expanded benefit packages and ZBB continuation.
- Mid-Year Augmentation: The Department of Budget and Management recently approved a ₱10.377-billion release to bolster ZBB funding, including ₱9.377 billion specifically for DOH hospitals across the country.
- Cancer Assistance Fund: Slated to receive ₱3.75 billion — a 150 percent surge from the ₱1.5 billion set aside in 2026. The fund is projected to assist up to 25,000 cancer patients with grants reaching ₱150,000 each across 36 designated access points nationwide.
“Available to 36 designated cancer care access sites in DOH-retained and [local government unit]-operated hospitals nationwide, this funding will expand access to timely diagnosis and life-saving treatment for patients battling the country’s deadliest cancers, including breast, lung, colorectal, and liver cancer,” Marcos stated.
To address healthcare staffing, the administration has proposed ₱25.39 billion for the National Health Workforce Support System, up from ₱23.36 billion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, to support the deployment of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.
Meanwhile, 14 DOH hospitals in Metro Manila are set to receive a combined proposed allocation of ₱28.19 billion for 2027.