Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) reported a significant increase in patient access to hospital services following the implementation of its Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program, which ensures that patients in government hospitals no longer have to pay out-of-pocket for covered medical expenses.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on Friday, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo stated that the program has been "well received" by the public. "Nakakita tayo ng pagtaas, mga sampung porsiyento, kinse porsiyento (We have seen an increase of about 10 percent, 15 percent)," he said.
The ZBB program aims to eliminate financial barriers to healthcare by fully covering eligible hospital expenses of Filipinos under the "Bayad Na ang Bill Mo" (Your Bill is Already Paid) campaign. Domingo mentioned that the increase in patients is a positive sign that Filipinos are becoming more confident in accessing medical services without fear of high costs.
To address the surge in hospital visits, the DOH is strengthening its BUCAS (Building Up the Capacity of Access to Services) Centers and preparing to extend the ZBB program to local government units (LGUs), especially in remote areas. The DOH said among the patients who benefited from the ZBB are a cochlear implant recipient at Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City and another treated for tuberculosis of the lungs and brain at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City. Their hospital bills, which exceeded PHP2 million, were fully covered by the ZBB program.
Domingo stated that the DOH is proposing an increase in the maintenance and other operating expenses of its hospitals to sustain and expand the program. The DOH has identified 55 Level 2 and 3 hospitals owned by LGUs in far-flung areas, which it plans to support through redirected funds, he added.
Meanwhile, the DOH said it continues to address supply and staffing concerns raised by barangay health workers (BHWs) during a recent consultation in Naga City, Camarines Sur. The BHWs expressed their need for more tuberculosis and hypertension medicines, which the DOH will ensure better access to through the Purok Kalusugan (Subcommunity Health) Program and BUCAS centers, Domingo said.
He added that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) also plays a key role at the LGU level. Once a Rural Health Unit becomes YAKAP-accredited, it can receive PhilHealth payments for primary care services, which may be used to hire BHWs and purchase essential medicines. He said the integration of ZBB, BUCAS, and YAKAP strengthens the Universal Health Care system and ensures that Filipinos, regardless of income or location, can receive the care they need without worrying about costs.
