FREE HOSPITAL BILLS? Yes, at These 87 DOH-Run Hospitals Under Zero Balance Billing
This policy, officially highlighted during the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), ensures that patients don’t pay a single peso for essential in-patient services
(July 30, 2025) – Getting hospitalized in the Philippines often means recovering from both illness and financial stress. But in a major healthcare milestone, patients admitted to basic accommodations in 87 Department of Health (DOH)-managed hospitals nationwide can now walk out with zero hospital bills—thanks to the full implementation of the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) policy.
This policy, officially highlighted during the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), ensures that patients don’t pay a single peso for essential in-patient services—room and board, medications, diagnostic procedures, and even doctors’ fees—provided they’re admitted to basic (ward-type) accommodations in any of the 87 listed DOH hospitals.
“Itinuloy na po natin ang zero balance billing. Libre po,” the president said in his 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.”
What is Zero Balance Billing?
ZBB is not entirely new. Introduced by PhilHealth in 2011, it originally applied only to indigent and sponsored members. The 2019 Universal Health Care Act expanded it to more patients, but gaps remained. Now, with the DOH’s full rollout as of May 14, 2025, the policy is finally in full swing across 87 hospitals.
What’s Covered:
✅ Hospital room (basic/ward)
✅ Medications
✅ Laboratory and diagnostic tests
✅ Surgery (if medically necessary)
✅ Professional fees of attending doctors
Who Can Avail?
Any Filipino admitted to a basic (ward) accommodation in a participating DOH hospital is eligible. Just inform the staff that you are availing of Zero Balance Billing and present:
A PhilHealth ID (or register upon admission)
A valid government-issued ID
Note: Elective services and room upgrades (private/semi-private) are not covered.
“Basta nasa basic accommodation ka ng DOH, bayad na ang bill mo,” clarified DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa.
What’s Not Covered?
Admission to private or pay rooms
Procedures that are not medically necessary
Non-DOH hospitals (e.g., Philippine Heart Center, NKTI, Lung Center)
Full List of DOH Hospitals Implementing Zero Balance Billing
Luzon
Metro Manila
Amang Rodriguez Memorial 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 Region
Bicol Medical Center
Bicol Region General Hospital and Geriatric Medical Center
Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center
Visayas
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
Mindanao
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 Region
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
While this is a powerful leap forward, some patients may still face minor charges due to:
Medicine stockouts
Partial PhilHealth coverage
Lack of awareness among hospital staff or patients
It’s recommended to confirm with hospital admissions upon entry and clarify that you’re availing of the ZBB policy in a basic room only.
