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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos clears out P3.5-M medical bills of patients in Valenzuela Medical Center

Marcos clears out P3.5-M medical bills of patients in Valenzuela Medical Center

Published Sep 14, 2025 12:46 pm  |  Updated Sep 14, 2025 01:10 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits Valenzuela Medical Center on his birthday on Sept. 13, 2025 to ensure that the zero-balance billing policy is strictly implemented at the hospital. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits Valenzuela Medical Center on his birthday on Sept. 13, 2025 to ensure that the zero-balance billing policy is strictly implemented at the hospital. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Marcos has cleared the medical bill of three patients in Valenzuela Medical Center which have reached P3.5 million on his birthday on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Marcos ordered the zero-balance billing for the patients during his visit at the hospital to check on the implementation of the government’s zero-balance billing policy, or the Bayad na Bill Mo program.
The three beneficiaries were a 75-year-old woman, who is battling acute respiratory failure, and had incurred a hospital bill of over P1.8 million; a man diagnosed with sepsis, whose hospital bill had reached over P1.1 million; and a newborn with a medical bill amounting to more than P610,000.
The zero balance billing policy is being implemented in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals around the country.
It ensures that patients admitted to ward or basic accommodation services do not incur out-of-pocket expenses for their treatment.
It was launched in August, following Marcos' declaration of zero-balance billing in all DOH hospitals in the country during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In his latest podcast, the President reaffirmed the sustainability of the program, stressing that public funds are meant to provide vital health services.
The President pointed out that there is no point in carrying out a program that will be halted after five or 10 years, or after the people become dependent on it.
He acknowledged the high cost of hospitalization but assured the public that sufficient allocation had been made for such a program.
“Healthcare is expensive. But what’s that money for? It’s not to be kept in the bank. It’s there to spend so that people can have healthcare for free or cheap. That’s the whole point of PhilHealth,” he pointed out.

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