An estimated 18 million Filipinos stand to benefit as the Senate allocates ₱62.6 billion to help pursue zero out-of-pocket expenses in Department of Health–run hospitals next year, Senator Win Gatchalian said.

The National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026 originally allocated P53.3 billion for the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) Program to cover 16 million patients. The Senate Committee on Finance, however, added P9.3 billion to the operating funds of DOH hospitals to cover 2 million more patients. 

Under the ZBB, the government will shoulder all the expenses for patients admitted in basic or ward accommodations of DOH hospitals. The program covers room charges, lab tests, professional fees, and other expenses regardless of a patient’s economic status.

“Ang dinagdagang pondo ng Zero Balance Billing Program ay para sa mas malusog at mas ligtas na mga komunidad. Isa ito sa mga pagbabagong direktang mararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

The Senate also allotted an additional P1 billion each to bolster the 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.

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS GATCHALIAN