Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday expressed support for a Senate amendment to the proposed 2026 national budget that provides funding for the expansion of the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program to hospitals owned by local government units (LGU). "This will allow Filipinos to avail of zero balance billing not just at DOH hospitals, but even in level 3 (large) LGU-owned hospitals," the DOH said in a statement.

According to Philippines News Agency, the agency emphasized that the move would widen access to affordable health services, particularly for indigent and financially vulnerable patients seeking care in major provincial and city hospitals. Earlier, the DOH reported that 1,078,164 patients have already benefited from the zero-balance billing program in just four months after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s last State of the Nation Address where he announced the program.

Under the program, patients do not pay for hospital services, including medical procedures, doctor's professional fees, and medications. As an alternative, the DOH also proposed the inclusion of a special provision under the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) to ensure that the bulk of the fund will be allocated for the expansion of zero balance billing coverage in LGU hospitals.

The DOH added that the move is aligned with the government's commitment to strengthen universal health care and reduce out-of-pocket expenses of patients nationwide.