To cater more patients Zero Balance Billing Program fund ups to P62.6 B

The Senate Committee on Finance increased the initial P53.3 billion fund of the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) Program to P62.6 billion to expand patient coverage.

According to a Senate press release issued November 23, the original budget for the said program can cover 16 million patients, while the additional P9.3 billion fund was added to the operating funds of Department of Health (DOH) hospitals with to cover additionally two million more patients.

The said program aims to push zero out-of-pocket expenses in DOH-run hospitals next year.

Under the ZBB, the government will shoulder expenses of patients admitted in basic or ward accommodations in DOH hospitals.

Among the services the program will provide are room charges, laboratory tests, medical fees, and shoulder expenses regardless of a patient's economic status.

Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Win Gathalian said that the additional budget targets “healthier and safer” communities.

An additional P1 billion was also allotted to boost ZBB in the following specialty hospitals: the Lung Center of the Philippines, the Philippine Heart Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.