Manila: At least 2.1 million patients nationwide have benefitted from the government's Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) policy, totaling PHP135 billion in free hospital bills over nine months. In a public advisory on Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) noted the figure covers data from July 2025 to March 2026.

According to Philippines News Agency, the mandated program has effectively eliminated out-of-pocket expenses for millions of Filipinos seeking treatment in public health facilities. The ZBB policy was a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who ordered that indigent and financially incapacitated patients should not be charged for medical services in government hospitals.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has since spearheaded the strict implementation of the mandate across all DOH-retained hospitals nationwide. Under the ZBB framework, patients admitted to basic accommodation in government hospitals are cleared of their medical expenses through a combination of PhilHealth coverage and the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program.

The DOH said the policy is aimed at ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to all Filipinos without the burden of hospital debt.