Zero Balance Billing boosts hospital access nationwide – DOH

More Filipinos are now seeking hospital care without fear of medical debt, thanks to the Department of Health’s (DOH) Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program, which guarantees that patients in government hospitals pay nothing out of pocket for covered services.

In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon Friday, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo reported a 10 to 15 percent increase in hospital access since the program’s launch — a clear indication, he said, that “Filipinos are becoming more confident in accessing medical services without fear of high costs.”

Under the ZBB initiative, also known as the “Bayad Na ang Bill Mo” campaign, all eligible expenses of patients in government hospitals are fully covered. Domingo cited real cases such as a cochlear implant recipient at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City and another patient treated for tuberculosis of the lungs and brain at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa — both of whom had hospital bills exceeding ₱2 million, fully paid under ZBB.

To keep up with rising patient volume, the DOH is ramping up its BUCAS (Building Up the Capacity of Access to Services) Centers and preparing to expand ZBB to local government units (LGUs), especially those in far-flung areas. 

Domingo said the department has identified 55 Level 2 and 3 LGU-run hospitals that will be prioritized for funding support.

He added that the DOH is also proposing higher maintenance and operating budgets for government hospitals to sustain and expand the program’s reach.

Meanwhile, the agency continues to respond to concerns raised by barangay health workers (BHWs) in Naga City, Camarines Sur, who requested more supplies of tuberculosis and hypertension medicines. 

Domingo assured that these needs will be addressed through the Purok Kalusugan initiative and BUCAS Centers.

Complementing these efforts is the PhilHealth Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which enables accredited Rural Health Units to receive PhilHealth reimbursements for primary care services — funds that can be used to hire BHWs and buy essential medicines.

Domingo emphasized that integrating ZBB, BUCAS, and YAKAP strengthens the country’s Universal Health Care system, ensuring that “no Filipino, wherever they live or whatever their income, will be left behind when it comes to health.”