Marcos Administration's "Zero Balance Billing" Program for DOH Hospitals Faces Criticisms from Health Workers

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has launched a "zero balance billing" program in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals, which aims to provide free medical services to all patients, regardless of their income. According to the President, the program is proceeding well, with over 12,000 patients having their medical bills fully paid for by the government in the EVMC, and over 2,400 patients in the EAMC. However, health workers have criticized the program, saying that it puts more burden on the DOH hospitals without providing additional funding or increasing staffing. They also demanded that the government increase the entry salary for health workers to P33,000, and regularize contractual health workers.

Key Takeaways:

• The Marcos administration's "zero balance billing" program in DOH hospitals aims to provide free medical services to all patients, regardless of their income.
• Over 12,000 patients have had their medical bills fully paid for by the government in the EVMC, and over 2,400 patients in the EAMC, according to the President.
• Health workers have criticized the program, saying that it puts more burden on the DOH hospitals without providing additional funding or increasing staffing.
• The AHW has demanded that the government increase the entry salary for health workers to P33,000, and regularize contractual health workers.
• The government has authorized the granting of benefits and compensation to healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers who rendered service during the COVID-19 pandemic through Republic Act No. 11712.
• As of December 2024, more than P121 billion has been released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for PHEBA.

Statistics:

• Over 12,000 patients have had their medical bills fully paid for by the government in the EVMC.
• Over 2,400 patients in the EAMC have had their medical bills fully paid for by the government.
• More than P121 billion has been released by the DBM for PHEBA as of December 2024.
• The PHEBA budget for 2026 was put under unprogrammed appropriations, which are not automatically allocated and could only be released if funding conditions are met.
• The budget for PHEBA was slashed by Congress to P2 billion and ultimately vetoed by Marcos in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Sources:

• INQUIRER.net article "Marcos wants 'zero balance billing' in DOH hospitals improved"
• DOH website
• DBM website
• Republic Act No. 11712
• Commission on Audit website
• Philippine Health Insurance Corp. website