SENATOR Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV urged clearer information and stronger financial support from PhilHealth for patients under the government’s Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program, saying many Filipinos remain unaware of their right to free hospitalization.
“Because ang nangyayari, yung bill comes later at nagkakagulatan. Posible po kasi lumobo yan eh,” Aquino said, adding that better awareness would encourage more citizens to choose the free option.
He added: “If more of our countrymen knew na may option na libre — which I think is very mahalaga po yan — marami pong pipili ng option na libre. And I think right now yung information ay hindi po malinaw.”
Beyond ZBB, Aquino called for “substantial” financial certainty from PhilHealth for patients who opt out of shared accommodations.
He said the current benefit limits — P27,000 or P34,000 — are not enough to ease the burden of medical bills.
“Sa mga kababayan natin na hindi mag-shared accommodation, hinahanap po nila sa PhilHealth tulong na substantial — hindi lang po P27,000 or P34,000 — pero sana a certainty na may porsyento ng bill ko na kayang kargahin ng PhilHealth,” he said.
To improve transparency and access, Aquino proposed that the Department of Health (DOH) create an online tracker showing real-time ZBB bed availability in government and local hospitals.
“I would suggest ‘pag pinublish niyo na, DOH-3 hospital, 1,000 beds ang zero balance billing, private hospital, 50 beds ang zero balance billing, para alam ng tao,” he said.
He added that a tracker would allow both the public and the government to see whether shared accommodations were filling up, helping patients know where to go while enabling officials to monitor and fund additional beds as needed.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa expressed support for Aquino’s recommendations, saying they align with the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen access to Universal Healthcare.
