Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a warning to the public about scammers and individuals posing as fixers who are exploiting the Zero-Balance Billing (ZBB) program. In a recent advisory, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa highlighted that the ZBB program operates without the involvement of any fixers or intermediaries.

According to Philippines News Agency, Health Secretary Herbosa advised patients and their families to engage directly with the billing section of DOH hospitals to avoid falling prey to fraudulent activities. He clarified that the DOH does not communicate via text messages regarding the program's implementation and stressed that there are no fixers involved in Zero-Balance Billing.

Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s announcement during his State of the Nation Address, over 2,000 beneficiaries have successfully availed of the ZBB at the East Avenue Medical Center. The program is designed to ensure that qualified patients can be discharged from DOH hospitals without paying out-of-pocket expenses for covered services.

The DOH has reiterated its commitment to handling patient information and billing details with complete consent from patients, their guardians, and hospital authorities. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or groups claiming to offer assistance with the program.