AT least 14,000 patients in two Department of Health (DOH) hospitals have benefited so far from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “Bayad na Bill Mo” program since its launch less than four weeks ago.
President Marcos announced the zero balance billing policy during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, 2025.
The “Bayad na Bill Mo program” is being implemented in the basic or ward accommodation of 87 Department of Health (DOH) hospitals nationwide.
According to the DOH, to date at least 12,000 patients at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in Tacloban City and at least 2,400 patients at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City had their medical bills fully paid for by the government.
President Marcos visited the Eastern Visayas Medical Center on Monday and the East Avenue Medical Center on Tuesday to check on the implementation of the zero balance billing policy.
“So, I’m happy to be able to report that the zero billing program is proceeding well,” the President said in his remarks at the East Avenue Medical Center after interacting with patients and hospital staff in the hospital’s wards.
President Marcos nevertheless urged the public to further spread the word about the “Bayad na Bill Mo program” so patients will no longer hesitate to seek medical care due to financial constraints.
“Kaya ikalat ninyo ito, word of mouth, kasi ‘yung mga ibang pasyente sinasabi, ‘Ah, wala kayong binabayad. Ah, mayroon palang ganyan.’ So, ikalat natin, ipaalam natin sa lahat ng tao para hindi na sila nagdadalawang-isip na magpatingin, magpagamot, at magpagaling,” said the President.
The medical assistance is funded by the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), and by the allocation to DOH hospitals.
The assistance is in addition to the financial support from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
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