By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday directed the Department of Health (DOH) to ramp up its efforts to increase public awareness on the government’s “zero balance billing” policy under the “Bayad na Bill Mo” Program to encourage Filipinos to seek treatment and medical care.
The President made the directive during his visit at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City on Tuesday, where he ensured that patients who are ready for discharge from basic accommodation wards would not incur any charges.
Marcos also urged hospital personnel and patients to help spread correct information about the program.
“Ito ang patuloy nating pag-inspeksiyon at pagsiguro na ‘yong ating programa na zero billing ay unang-una, nagagampanan ng lahat ng ating mga ospital… ay nauunawaan kung ano ba ‘yong programa at kung papaano maka-avail ang mga pasyente. Pangalawa doon, ‘yong mga pasyente at saka family nila, kailangan din na malaman nila na mayroong ganito, na zero billing na,” he said in a media statement.
“Ikalat ninyo ito, word of mouth… So ikalat natin, ipaalam natin sa lahat ng tao para hindi na sila nagdadalawang isip na magpatingin, magpagamot, at magpagaling,” he added.
According to DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, around 2,000 patients at the EAMC have benefitted from the program since the President’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.
“I’m happy to be able to report that the “Zero Billing” program is proceeding well. Siyempre sa umpisa, we have to do information drives, hindi lamang sa mga ospital kung hindi pati sa pasyente. And I think we’re succeeding in that,” the Chief Executive said.
The President also commended healthcare workers for their dedication to service and in helping realize the government’s aspiration to provide accessible and quality healthcare for all Filipinos.
“Kailangan nating pasalamatan lahat ng ating magigiting at napakasipag at napaka-dedicated na healthcare workers…The instinct of service and dedication, they continue to show kahit walang pandemya, nakikita nating they continue to show at talagang malalaki ang kanilang mga puso para tulungan ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Herbosa, meanwhile, shared that they are also eyeing to coordinate with nearby private hospitals to transfer patients whenever a DOH hospital reaches full bed capacity in its basic accommodation wards.
“Palalawakin ko pa ito, ang susunod na plano ko makipag-coordinate sa mga nearby private hospital para kung napuno na ‘yong DOH hospital, ang private hospital may lisensiya ‘yan from DOH to operate with 10% of their beds for charity,” the Health chief said.
“Ang magiging agreement namin, babayaran [ng DOH] ‘yong butal over ‘yong sobra pa from PhilHealth revenue,” he added.
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