Marcos: Universal health care at hand

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is close to achieving universal health care or UHC, President Marcos said, as he visited a hospital in Bataan to check on its implementation of the zero-balance billing program.

Marcos said hospital costs should no longer be a problem for people who are thinking twice about seeking medical services as the zero-balance billing program covers patients admitted in basic or ward accommodations.

“We are close to attaining universal health care. We are 80 percent of the way... Just a few more notches and we will fulfill the universal health care,” the President told journalists during a visit to the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga City.

“My aspiration, of course, is to achieve the dream of universal health care for all our people. It’s just a question of building up the economy so we can afford it. The systems are all in place,” he added.

The zero-balance billing policy aims to ensure that all eligible patients are discharged without paying any medical fee for services covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth.

The program guarantees that PhilHealth members admitted in basic or ward accomodations in any hospital run by the Department of Health (DOH) are fully covered for hospitalization, diagnostics services and medicine included in the state insurer’s case rates.

The implementation of the policy is in line with the Universal Health Care Law, which states that every Filipino should be automatically included in the National Health Insurance Program administered by PhilHealth.

Marcos said the zero-balance billing is being implemented in 78 hospitals nationwide.

“Close to 3,000 patients in Bataan have benefited from the program,” Marcos said. “I’m very happy that we are able to do this. It’s up to the DOH and all our health workers to pick up the pace.”