Visit to the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center 9/2/2025

Описание: Balanga City, Bataan
September 2, 2025

In accordance with Republic Act No. 11223, also known as the ‘Universal Health Care (UHC) Law,’ which aims to provide accessible and equitable healthcare for all Filipinos, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (GHMC) in Balanga City, Bataan on September 2, 2025.

This Facility is one of the Department of Health’s (DOH) hospitals that has fully implemented the ‘Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) policy,’ ensuring that all eligible patients are discharged without incurring out-of-pocket expenses for PhilHealth-covered services.

Dr. Glory Baltazar, Medical Center Chief II of Bataan GHMC, briefs the President on the hospital’s streamlined processes from admission to discharge, as well as the successful implementation of the ZBB program.

In his remarks, President Marcos Jr. lauds Bataan GHMC for its initiative in expediting its services. “I am very happy that we are instituting this program, I think it has been a long time coming, and I’m glad malapit na tayo umabot talaga sa Universal Health Care, we are 80% of the way… konti na lang at maabot na natin ang Universal Health Care,” he states.

According to the President, the ZBB program is being implemented in 78 DOH hospitals nationwide. At Bataan GHMC, approximately 2,976 patients have been assisted under the program. A newly opened Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Center now caters to outpatient clients. Meanwhile, patients requiring hospital admission will be referred to DOH hospitals — a system which the government will be implementing.

The ZBB policy ensures that indigent, sponsored, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who are PhilHealth members admitted to DOH hospital service wards are fully covered for hospitalization, diagnostic services, and medicines included in PhilHealth’s case rates. This initiative highlights the DOH’s commitment to removing financial barriers to medical care and guaranteeing that every Filipino has access to safe, affordable health services — a major step toward achieving Universal Health Care.

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