The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
At the heart of Central Luzon, the OFW Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga continues to make waves—not just for its expanding services, but for what it proudly refuses to do: charge its patients.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Thursday reaffirmed the Marcos administration’s commitment to specialized healthcare for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families, highlighting the hospital’s unwavering zero-billing policy since its opening.
“Wala talagang binabayaran kahit isang kusing,” Cacdac emphasized during a media briefing. “We’ve never had that difficulty nor challenge here at the OFW Hospital since Day 1.”
Despite a surge in patients and expanding medical services, the facility has not charged a single peso—from consultation to surgery. From January to June 2025 alone, the hospital catered to over 53,000 patients, up 24% from the same period last year, according to Officer in Charge Dr. Patrick Louie Maglaya.
The rise in patient numbers is striking: in-patient admissions more than doubled, surgical operations increased by 72%, and urgent care admissions jumped 63%. Even outpatient consultations rose to 23,629—an indicator of growing trust in the institution.
The hospital’s expanded services include cardiology, nephrology, pulmonology, ENT, and surgery. More equipment is coming: MRI and mammogram machines are due in six months, and an ICU is awaiting Department of Health accreditation. Meanwhile, a PHP100 million Cancer Care Center is set to break ground this year.
The facility’s ability to sustain free services is credited to robust support from government funding via the General Appropriations Act, DOH and PhilHealth reimbursements, and assistance from OWWA, DSWD, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay said the hospital’s annual operating budget ranges from PHP300 million to PHP500 million, covering salaries of nearly 200 permanent employees and contract-based staff like nurses and doctors.