AT LEAST one doctor has now been assigned to each of the 1,493 towns in the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said as he touted the opening of Bagong Urgent Care Ambulatory Service centers across the country.
“At sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, ang bawat bayan po sa Pilipinas ay mayroon nang doktor. Mayroon nang magiging tagapag-alaga ng kalusugan ng mamamayan sa inyong lugar,” Marcos said in his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 28.
(For the first time, every town in the Philippines has a doctor. Now there is someone who will take care of the health of the people in your community.)
According to the World Health Organization, the minimum standard for doctor to population ratio is 10 per 10,000 people.
In 2023, the Philippines were short of 116,032 doctors to meet the standard, according to the Department of Health.
Marcos added that public hospitals and specialty centers have also increased since 2022, citing a total of 53 new Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers.
“Asahan ninyo, marami pa ang ating bubuksan na BUCAS,” Marcos said.
(You can expect that we will open more BUCAS.)
The centers cater outpatient services such as treatment of non-life-threatening cases, outpatient consultations, x-rays, laboratory tests, minor surgeries, dental health services, and follow-up checkups.
The Chief Executive also said that the zero-balance billing policy would continue as additional funds would be given to DOH hospitals to ensure their patients’ bills are already paid for.
“Itinuloy na po natin ang zero balance billing—libre po,” Marcos said.
(We are continuing the zero-balance billing—it is free.)
“Ibig sabihin, ang serbisyo sa mga basic accommodation sa ating mga DOH hospital, wala nang babayaran ang pasyente dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo. Uulitin ko, wala nang kailangan bayaran ang pasyente basta sa DOH hospital dahil bayad na po ang bill ninyo.”
(That means patients have no bill for basic accommodation services in DOH hospitals as it is already paid. I repeat, patients are not required to pay as long as it is in a DOH hospital because your bills are already paid.)
Various government funds and support programs back the policy, including PhilHealth, Medical Assistance for Indigents, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Expanded dialysis coverage
Marcos also emphasized PhilHealth’s free dialysis sessions for three sessions a week and free dialysis medicines.
“Sa mga nagda-dialysis: Ang sessions ninyo na tatlong beses sa isang linggo, libre na sa buong taon. Libre na rin po pati na ang mga kinakailangang gamot,” the President said.
[“For those undergoing dialysis: Your sessions of three times per week are already free for the whole year. Required medicines are now also free”]
However, only patients who are PhilHealth members and their dependents who are diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 are able to avail the benefit.
The limit for kidney transplants have also been increased from P600,000 to P2,100,000.
“Kaya kung kailangan po ninyo magpa-transplant, huwag po kayong matakot sa gastos dahil sagot na ng PhilHealth”
(“So if you really need a transplant, do not be afraid of the costs because PhilHealth will cover it.”) F
