Tacloban city: The newly opened wellness center of the Department of Health (DOH) at a shopping mall in Tacloban City is set to provide accessible and quality health services to over a thousand residents in Leyte each month.

According to Philippines News Agency, at a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that the facility would offer a range of essential medical services free of charge. Castro emphasized the benefits for Leyte residents, noting that the wellness center opened its doors to the public recently.

The wellness center offers free primary care services, including medical consultations, adult medicine, laboratory services, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology and vision screening, wellness, and nutrition services. By integrating health services within the community, the center aims to promote early preventive care, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and enhance the overall well-being of residents.

Castro also highlighted the Marcos administration's dedication to expanding the reach of the zero-balance billing policy. She shared a recent case of a patient, referred to as 'Tatay Samuel,' whose PHP600,000 medical bill for coronary artery disease treatment was fully covered by the government. The zero-balance billing policy ensures that patients in basic or ward accommodations in government-run hospitals are free from medical expenses, making essential healthcare more accessible to Filipinos.

To date, more than 1 million Filipinos have benefited from the program, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive for its intensified implementation during his Fourth State of the Nation Address. The DOH wellness clinic, situated at Robinsons North Tacloban in Abucay, Tacloban City, operates daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.