President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday made a quick visit to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte to check on the implementation of the government’s Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) policy.
The President interacted with health personnel and patients as he visited the hospital’s charity wards, emergency room, critical care services, and neonatal and intensive care units.
Marcos also witnessed the discharge of patients whose hospitalization costs were fully covered under the policy.
“Maganda ang implementation natin dito. Actually, hindi pa nasabi ng Pangulo sa kanyang SONA (State of the Nation Address), six years ago ay sumunod na po ang MMMH&MC (Our implementation here is good. Actually, the President has not said anything in his SONA yet, MMMH&MC followed six years ago),” Dr. Jose Orosa III, officer-in-charge medical center chief of MMMH&MC, said in a media interview.
Orosa said this is apart from the Medical Assistance for Indigent Program to help more patients in need.
From February to September this year, Orosa said the MAIP has benefitted some 40,200 patients or equivalent to PHP104 million in bills.
As of data released by the Department of Health early September, the ZBB has already benefited 298,221 patients, translating to PHP26.4 billion in combined billing of patients admitted for basic accommodation in DOH hospitals.
MMMH&MC, a Level III tertiary hospital with a 400-bed capacity, serves as one of the primary referral hospitals in the province and also caters to patients from nearby provinces Ilocos Sur, Abra, Cagayan, and Apayao.
The ZBB policy reflects the administration’s strong commitment to equitable and accessible healthcare, ensuring that no Filipino seeking treatment in public hospitals will be left financially burdened.
Lucresia Tolentino, whose husband Leonardo is one of the 67 ward patients at MMMH&MC, thanked President Marcos for the ZBB.
She said they no longer worry about seeking treatment because of the policy. Covered expenses include room charges, laboratory tests, diagnostic procedures, professional fees and medicines.
“We have been admitted here since Sept. 5. Our hospital bill has reached PHP85,000 but we are so thankful to the government’s zero billing policy, we no longer worry about paying that much because we are fully covered by the government. Thank you so much, Mr. President,” Tolentino said in the dialect after the President’s visit.
The Office of the President likewise distributed 2,076 meals to patients, guardians and hospital staff, with additional meals reserved for new admissions and volunteers.
The provincial government provided 1,800 food packs while House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos handed out 750 sacks of 10-kilo rice to patients and their families. (PNA)
