ILOILO City — More than 15,000 patients in Western Visayas have so far received hospital treatment without paying a single peso under the government’s Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program, a healthcare initiative aimed at removing financial barriers that often prevent poor families from seeking medical care.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the program is providing full hospital coverage for qualified PhilHealth members admitted to basic ward accommodations in government-run hospitals, ensuring that indigent patients, government-sponsored beneficiaries, and senior citizens can access essential medical services without incurring out-of-pocket expenses.
The initiative forms part of broader healthcare reforms designed to reduce hospital overcrowding, improve service delivery, and guarantee access to medical care regardless of a patient’s financial status.
“Through the Zero Balance Billing initiative, we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that indigent and financially vulnerable patients can access essential healthcare services in our government hospitals without the fear of financial repercussions,” said Dr. Helen Tobias, director of DOH Region 6.
The ZBB program is currently being implemented at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City, the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, and the Don Jose Monfort Medical Center in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
Records showed that from January to May this year alone, about 11,000 patients benefited from the program at WVMC, while nearly 4,000 others received assistance at the Don Jose Monfort Medical Center.
Statistics from the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital are still being consolidated.
Under the program, patients confined in basic or ward accommodations at DOH hospitals are exempt from hospital charges. The policy is anchored on the Universal Health Care Act, which provides that hospitalization expenses for eligible patients are covered through PhilHealth and other government health financing mechanisms.
Dr. Carl Andre Diesca, supervising administrative officer of WVMC’s billing and claims section, said the ZBB program builds on the government’s earlier No Balance Billing policy.
“The Zero Balance Billing policy operates in conjunction with the No Balance Billing framework. Almost 100 percent of the critical elements from the No Balance Billing initiative are integrated into the Zero Balance Billing strategy,” he explained.
Any remaining expenses not covered by PhilHealth are absorbed through the government’s quantified free service initiative, shielding patients from unexpected hospital costs.
The program covers a wide range of healthcare services, including diagnostic and laboratory examinations, medicines, specialized tests, and professional fees.
Health officials said the initiative is a significant step toward creating a more equitable healthcare system and ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent residents from obtaining life-saving medical treatment./PN
