Two Department of Health (DOH)-funded hospitals in Bohol are now implementing zero-balance billing as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s expanded healthcare program announced during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The DOH-Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay and DOH-Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center in Tagbilaran City are among the 87 DOH-run hospitals nationwide where patients no longer pay out-of-pocket expenses for basic accommodation services.
During his SONA on July 28, 2025, Marcos stressed that basic accommodation at DOH hospitals should be funded by the government, stating “Itinuloy na po natin ang zero-balance billing. Libre po.”
The policy requires all DOH-run hospitals to cover 100% of costs for basic accommodation, including doctors’ fees, medicine, laboratory tests, and other essential services, with no hidden charges.
In Central Visayas (Region VII), four other DOH hospitals are also implementing the zero billing policy:
– DOH-Eversley Child Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City, Cebu
– DOH-St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital in Cebu City, Cebu
– DOH-Cebu South Medical Center in Talisay, Cebu
– DOH-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, Cebu
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa confirmed that the zero-billing policy applies to all patients in DOH-run hospitals.
The program builds on PhilHealth’s No Balance Billing policy but extends coverage to ensure patients face no financial burden for basic medical services, expanding the government’s commitment to universal healthcare access, directly benefiting patients who previously struggled with medical expenses at public hospitals.
The policy covers essential medical services without requiring additional payments beyond existing PhilHealth coverage, effectively eliminating financial barriers to healthcare at government-operated medical facilities.
Regional health officials are coordinating with hospital administrators to ensure smooth implementation of the zero billing system across all DOH facilities in the Visayas region.