More than one million Filipinos have already benefited from the government’s zero-balance billing policy in just four months, Malacañang said Wednesday, underscoring President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push to expand access to quality healthcare.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the initiative is a direct result of the President’s directive to strengthen public health services nationwide.

“As part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s campaign to further improve healthcare in the country, more than 1,078,000 patients have been assisted through the Department of Health’s zero-balance billing program in just four months,” Castro said in Filipino during a press briefing.

Marcos first highlighted the policy in his Fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28, noting that the government aims to ease the financial burden on patients by ensuring they no longer need to pay out-of-pocket fees in DOH hospitals.

Under the zero-balance billing policy, patients admitted to basic or ward accommodations in DOH-identified hospitals receive full coverage of their medical expenses.

Castro said the DOH, under Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, continues to implement the policy across all DOH hospitals to ensure that the public receives maximum health benefits without financial strain.

She stressed that the government remains steadfast in keeping hospital services accessible, particularly for vulnerable Filipinos who rely on public healthcare facilities.

Castro also said the administration will continue expanding programs that improve healthcare delivery and provide relief to millions of Filipino families.