The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released PHP1.855 billion in additional funding to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), including PHP800 million for the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB), to sustain the critical services of the country’s premier state hospital and ease the medical expenses of Filipino families.

According to the DBM, the additional PHP800 million allocation for the ZBB will support PGH’s implementation of the government’s commitment to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket hospital expenses for eligible patients, consistent with Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, and applicable guidelines.

Budget Acting Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said on Wednesday that the release puts additional government resources directly behind one of the most immediate concerns of Filipino families.

“Government must help make sure that needing medical care does not become a financial crisis for Filipino families,” he said.

Apart from supporting the ZBB and other medical services, PHP15 million will be provided for the treatment of Dystonia-Parkinsonism, or Lubag Syndrome, helping ensure continued access to specialized treatment and related medical requirements for patients affected by the condition.

As the national university hospital and one of the country’s foremost referral centers, PGH handles patients requiring a broad range of medical services, including complex and specialized cases referred from across the country.

“Every peso we release for health must ultimately reach the patient. This PHP1.855 billion is not simply additional funding on paper – it means more resources for treatment, less financial pressure on families, and continued support for patients who depend on PGH for critical and specialized care,” De Leon said.

The budget chief said the release reflects President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to keep health care and other essential public services among the government’s foremost priorities despite competing demands on limited fiscal resources. (PNA)