President Ferdinand Marcos has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to step up its information drive on the government’s zero-balance billing policy to ensure more Filipinos benefit from free hospital treatment.
The directive was made during his visit to East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, where over 2,400 patients have already availed of the program since its launch last July.
Nationwide, more than 12,000 patients in Tacloban and thousands more across 83 DOH hospitals and four specialty facilities have received free medical services under the initiative.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa assured that the program, now available to all Filipinos and not just indigent patients, has sufficient funding to continue.
Marcos urged the public to spread awareness of the policy so no Filipino will hesitate to seek proper medical care.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 20, 2025
