Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA (UPDATE) — Filipino patients no longer have to pay for basic accommodation service in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals as the administration launches its "zero balance billing" initiative.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the program during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
"Areglado na ang lahat sa ospital. Wala nang kailangan puntahan o lapitan pa. Ito po, itinuloy na po natin ang zero balance billing. Libre po. Ibig sabihin, ang serbisyo sa basic accommodation sa ating mga DOH na ospital, wala nang babayaran ang pasyente, dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo," he explained.
PHILHEALTH BENEFITS
Marcos added that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) had expanded its benefits, offering free services for various heart conditions, weekly dialysis sessions and medicines in a year, eyesight check-up and treatment for children, rehabilitation and therapy sessions for persons with disabilities (PWD), and other emergency situations.
More medicines, cancer screenings available under PhilHealth’s ‘revitalized’ primary care benefit
For cancer patients, the President said Filipinos can rely on the government's Cancer Assistance Fund.
"Para naman sa ibang mga klase ng kanser na hindi sakop ng PhilHealth, mayroon tayong nilaang P1.7 bilyon pambili ng mga kinakailangang gamot ng pasyente," he stressed.
He said the DOH will also start the free immunization of Filipinos from the human papillomavirus (HPV), which in some cases cause abnormal cells to develop and even lead to cancer.
PhilHealth has also expanded its assistance for those who need kidney transplant, as it allotted P2.1 million budget for the coverage, he added.
"Ngayong taon, covered na rin sa PhilHealth ang mga serbisyo at gamot pagkatapos ng operasyon ng kidney transplant," Marcos said.
He stated that the state health ensurer had increased the coverage limit for dengue cases to P47,000, while cataract removal now has a P187,000 limit.
Filipinos worried about hospital expenses can avail the government's Medical Assistance Program, which Marcos said had helped over 11 million Filipinos so far.
He stressed the assistance process is easier via eGov app.
Medical assistance for indigents to be accessible on e-Gov app
Marcos added that the PhilHealth is now fast-tracking the payment process to hospitals and clinics to avoid delays in patient services.
HEALTHCARE IN THE REGIONS
The President said each town in the Philippines currently has a designated doctor.
"At sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, ang bawat bayan po sa Pilipinas ay mayroon nang doktor. Mayroon nang magiging tagapangalaga ng kalusugan ng mamamayan sa inyong lugar," he said.
In 32 provinces across the country, Marcos mentioned that 53 Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers are actively offering free check-up, x-ray, laboratory tests, and other services.
"Asahan ninyo, marami pa ang ating bubuksan na BUCAS," he said.
Marcos also urged the DOH to complete children's vaccinations as soon as possible.
'OVERJOYED'
In a statement, Senior Citizens party-list Rep Rodoldo Ordanes lauded Marcos' health-related policies.
"We senior citizens yearn to live long enough to see the dawn of a new Philippines. With what we heard in the SONA, we are filled with hope that we will see the sun rise on our beloved country in our twilight years," he said.
Ordanes particularly cited the PhilHealth's dialysis coverage and the establishment of Early Childhood Care and Development centers.
"We are overjoyed by the President’s announcement that PhilHealth dialysis coverage will be expanded to one whole year and the over P2 million ceiling on kidney transplants... We are [also] glad our grandchildren will have 300 more ECCD (Early Childhood Care and Development) centers, Bulilit Centers, and day care centers," he said.
The lawmaker vowed to support these initiatives by funding them in next year's national budget.
RELATED VIDEO