THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved a total of P1.855 billion in additional funding for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Malacañang said on Wednesday.
“This is in accordance with the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help patients with their expenses in hospitalization while supporting the critical, medical and specialized services of the country’s leading public hospital,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
Castro noted that of the total amount, P800 million is specifically earmarked for the implementation of the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program. The ZBB program aims to lessen the out-of-pocket medical expenses of indigent patients during hospitalization.
In total, P1.40 billion from the package will directly fund PGH’s core medical and specialized health services. The subsidy was meant to bolster PGH’s capacity to absorb high patient volumes and maintain critical care services.
The funding includes a P5-million line item for the specialized treatment of X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism. This is to ensure that patients suffering from the rare neurodegenerative disorder receive continuous medical attention and specialized care.
The DBM said that the funds will be made immediately available.
