Philippines Expands Zero-Balance Billing to Five New Provinces
The Department of Health (DOH) is expanding its zero balance billing scheme to five provinces. The copilot programme will cover Sarangani, Laguna, Aklan, Benguet, and one of Pampanga, Bataan, or Quezon. These areas were chosen for their lack of DOH hospitals and their strong public management systems.
The move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order in July 2022 to enforce the policy strictly. Since then, around one million patients have already benefited from the marketplace, which removes out-of-pocket costs for hospital care.
The pilot will run in select secondary and tertiary hospitals managed by local government units (LGUs). Only provinces that have met their commitments to universal health coverage will take part. A budget of ₱1 billion has been set aside from the DOH’s ₱448 billion allocation for 2026 to fund this initial phase.
Under the programme, patients in basic or ward accommodation at DOH hospitals will pay nothing for their treatment. When government medical centres reach full capacity, formal agreements will allow transfers to LGU hospitals—with zero balance billing still applied. The DOH has also clarified that it does not issue guarantee letters for bill settlements, leaving that decision to individual hospitals.
To prevent misuse, the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) states that only authorised government staff or accredited agencies can distribute cash aid. Elective officials, politicians, or their representatives are barred from handling the funds.
The expansion aims to ease financial pressure on patients with serious or complex conditions. It also seeks to improve teamwork between national and local health services, ensuring smoother access to care.
The pilot programme will test the scheme’s effectiveness in LGU-run hospitals. If successful, it could extend to more provinces, offering wider relief from medical costs. The DOH’s focus remains on removing financial barriers for patients while maintaining strict oversight of funds.
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