MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City is looking to forge a formal agreement with The Medical City to help qualified patients in its 51-bed PhilHealth ward leave the hospital with zero balance billing.
Mayor Vico Sotto said on Friday, April 24, that the city government plans to propose an arrangement where Pasig would shoulder additional costs not covered by PhilHealth or the Department of Health.
Sotto, along with Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, was given a tour of the hospital’s PhilHealth ward, also known as the Bengzon Patient Access Ward.
“Did you know that The Medical City Pasig also has a 51-bed PhilHealth ward?” Sotto said.
“Depending on the patient’s eligibility and condition, they are already implementing zero balance billing,” he added.
Sotto noted that countries with more advanced universal health care systems rely heavily on private hospitals while keeping patients’ out-of-pocket expenses low.
He cited Japan and Netherlands as examples where hospitals are largely privately run but patients pay minimal costs.
He added that the Philippines should move toward a similar model as PhilHealth coverage and processes continue to improve.
“Especially now that PhilHealth’s coverage and processes are improving, we should also think like this here,” Sotto said.
“We should support private institutions in these efforts and strengthen our health care provider network,” he added.
