The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday reported that at least 298,221 indigent patients have already benefited from the Zero-Balance Billing (ZBB) program, which spares the poor from paying hospital bills in government facilities.
According to the DOH, this translates to ₱26.4 billion worth of hospital charges covered for patients admitted under basic accommodation in DOH hospitals.
“This is a milestone and umiikot kami ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., nakikita nya ‘yung mga pasyenteng tuwang-tuwa na pina-uuwi at nakaka-uwing walang binabayaran,” DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a radio interview.
He added: “Sabi nga ng Pangulo, palapit nang palapit na tayo sa inaasam nating universal health coverage.”
The ZBB program ensures that patients in DOH hospitals do not pay for medical services, medicines, and doctors’ professional fees.
The agency also reported that average daily admissions in government hospitals jumped from 3,297 to 4,067 since the policy was rolled out.
“Itinuloy na po natin ang zero balance billing. Libre po,” President Marcos affirmed in his 4th State of the Nation Address on July 28.
Funding for the ZBB comes from the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), and budget allocations to DOH hospitals, on top of PhilHealth support.
The DOH said implementation will continue in 2026, backed by its proposed ₱320-billion budget, of which ₱260.2 billion will be earmarked for ZBB, deployment of health workers, and other Universal Health Care (UHC) programs.