The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday denied reports that traffic violators will be excluded from availing Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) in government hospitals.
The clarification came after Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned Health Secretary Ted Herbosa’s earlier remarks, which implied that those involved in road accidents due to violations such as not wearing a helmet or seatbelt, or driving under the influence, would lose access to the program.
“Bakit siya gumagawa ng sariling batas eh dapat non-discriminatory yan. Na-ticketan na nga, lahat naman tayo nagkakamali, tapos hindi mo pa i-qualify sa zero balance billing,” Tulfo said during a Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing.
At a United Nations road safety event earlier this month, Herbosa had said: “Today, I am announcing that if you are admitted because you are not wearing a helmet, seatbelt or were drinking (alcohol), you are now disqualified from the Zero Balance Billing.”
Citing the urgency of addressing road accidents, Herbosa also stressed: “If we don’t act, we will end up with a population that is either dying on the road or permanently disabled.”
But DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo clarified that the secretary’s statement has not translated into policy. “Yan po ay hindi iniimplement pa po. Hindi namin sinasabi na mawawalang po ng serbisyo,” Domingo explained, emphasizing that ZBB remains intact and inclusive.
Domingo added that instead of cutting off hospital services, deterrents should focus on the insurance side. “Siguro ang dapat na usapin is paano ang singilan ng premium? Pag kayo ay nag-violate, hindi kayo naka-seatbelt, yung premium niyo sa insurance deterrent. Hindi po sa service side, kun’dì insurance side,” he said.
Zero Balance Billing, currently in effect in 87 DOH-run hospitals, guarantees free coverage for operations, medicines, and procedures for patients admitted in basic ward accommodation.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that land transport accidents in 2013 rose to more than 13,000, while studies consistently cite alcohol use and traffic violations as major factors in such incidents.
