27/01/2026
PATIENTS CAN GET TREATED FOR FREE AT THESE 87 DOH HOSPITALS—HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Hospitalization in the Philippines can often feel daunting—not just because of illness, but because of the bills waiting at discharge. Thankfully, the Department of Health’s nationwide Zero Balance Billing policy is here to ease that worry. Patients admitted to basic accommodations in 87 DOH-managed hospitals can now receive treatment, medications, lab tests, and doctor fees completely free of charge.
“Itinuloy na po natin ang zero balance billing. Libre po,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced during his recent SONA. “Ibig sabihin, ang serbisyo sa basic accommodation sa ating mga DOH na ospital wala nang babayaran ang pasyente dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo.”
To access zero balance billing, patients should inform hospital staff upon admission, request basic or ward accommodation, and present a PhilHealth ID and government-issued ID. Even those not yet enrolled in PhilHealth may register upon admission. Upgrades to private rooms or elective services will require out-of-pocket payment. Notably, specialty hospitals such as the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Lung Center, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center are not covered under this program.
DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa explains: “Basta 'wag lang kayo nasa private, kasi pag nagpunta ka sa private may bayad yung doctor, may bayad yung room. Basta nasa basic accommodation ka ng DOH, bayad na ang bill mo.”
While the zero balance billing policy is not entirely new—PhilHealth introduced a version in 2011 for indigent patients—the 2019 Universal Health Care Act expanded it for all patients in basic accommodations. The difference now is the full national rollout: since May 14, all 87 directly managed DOH hospitals implement the program, emphasized in Marcos’ SONA on July 28. “Initially, we discussed piloting the program in one hospital per region, but Malacañang challenged us to dream bigger,” says DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.
A word of caution: minor gaps may still occur due to medicine shortages, partial PhilHealth coverage, or communication issues, which could lead to small out-of-pocket expenses.
List of DOH Hospitals Offering Zero Balance Billing
Luzon – Metro Manila
Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Rizal Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Tondo Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Center
Region I – Ilocos
Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center, Ilocos Sur Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Region 1 Medical Center, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Conner District Hospital, Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center, Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital
Region II – Cagayan Valley
Batanes General Hospital, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Northwestern Cagayan General Hospital, Region II Trauma and Medical Center, Southern Isabela Medical Center
Region III – Central Luzon
Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center, Joni Villanueva General Hospital, Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital, Talavera General Hospital
Region IV-A – CALABARZON
Batangas Medical Center, Maria L. Eleazar General Hospital, Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital
Region IV-B – MIMAROPA
Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital, Ospital ng Palawan
Region V – Bicol
Bicol Medical Center, Bicol Region General Hospital and Geriatric Medical Center, Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center
Region VI – Western Visayas
Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center, Western Visayas Medical Center, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital
Region VII – Central Visayas
Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital, Eversley Child Sanitarium and General Hospital, Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center, St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, Cebu South Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center
Region VIII – Eastern Visayas
Eastern Visayas Medical Center, Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center
Negros Island Region
Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital
Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
Basilan Medical Center, Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital, Labuan General Hospital, Margosatubig Regional Hospital, Zamboanga Regional Medical Center, Sulu Sanitarium and General Hospital, Zamboanga City Medical Center
Region X – Northern Mindanao
Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Camiguin General Hospital, Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center, Northeastern Misamis General Hospital, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, First Misamis Oriental General Hospital
Region XI – Davao
Davao Occidental General Hospital, Davao Regional Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center
Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Cotabato Sanitarium and General Hospital, SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital
Region XIII – Caraga
Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center, Caraga Regional Hospital, Siargao Island Medical Center
This story originally appeared on SPOT.ph. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.
