Sept. 13 only: DOH outpatient services free on Marcos' 68th birthday
Department of Health hospitals across the country will provide free outpatient services on Saturday, Sept. 13, coinciding with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s birthday.
"Ngayong araw, Handog ng Pangulo sa lahat ng rehiyon sa Luzon ang iba’t ibang outpatient at screening services," the DOH wrote.
Usually, the outpatient department is closed on Saturdays, but for Marcos' birthday, it will be open, where free consultations will be held.
Offers include newborn screening, school-based immunization, distribution of health commodities, active case finding of tuberculosis, mobile x-ray, and other medical services.
This initiative, according to the DOH, supports the president's goal of offering free medical services to Filipinos.
"Ang mga serbisyong ito ay alinsunod sa layunin ng Pangulong Bong Bong Marcos Jr. na ilapit ang libre at dekalidad na serbisyong medikal hindi lamang sa mga ospital kundi pati sa komunidad," it continued.
During his fourth State of the Nation Address, Marcos said DOH hospitals will have "zero balance billing."
“Uulitin ko, wala nang kailangan bayaran ang pasyente basta sa DOH hospital dahil bayad na po ang bill ninyo," the president said.
Under the zero balance billing scheme, Marcos announced that basic accommodations in DOH hospitals will be free of charge. As defined in Republic Act No. 11223, also known as the Universal Healthcare Law, basic accommodation refers to regular meals, a bed in a shared room, fan ventilation, and shared toilets and bathrooms.
It will be available at 87 hospitals under the agency.
Of the 87 DOH hospitals, the four government-owned and controlled corporation hospitals won't be included yet, Health Assec. Albert Domingo told PhilSTAR L!fe. These are the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and Philippine Heart Center.