Archival eyes ‘zero billing’ policy at CCMC

Local

NO CEBUANO should fear leaving the hospital with an empty wallet.

This was the assurance of Mayor Nestor Archival as he bared plans to implement a “zero billing” policy in the city-run hospital, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s nationwide push for free healthcare for the poor.

“Ang tan-aw nato sa city government kay ang ato gyung mga pobre ma zero billing sa ilang bayranan sa health. Kato ra’ng mga pobre ha,” Archival said in an interview. “Of course, ang PhilHealth na mubayad. Ang katong balance, ang city government.”

Archival said the completion of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) will be vital to carrying out the initiative, noting that a fully accredited city hospital will allow Cebu City to sustain the program.

“Kung ang atong city hospital mahuman lang gyud na siya, dili gyud ta mag problema sa zero billing, especially sa mga katawhan nga mahinganlan nato og pobre,” he said.

The mayor emphasized that the city already earmarks around P500 million annually for hospital operations, funds he believes are enough to back the scheme once CCMC becomes fully functional and PhilHealth-accredited.

“Dako kaayo na siya og tabang. Naa naman tay kwarta nga more or less P500 million a year,” he added.

Archival explained that the city would absorb expenses not shouldered by PhilHealth. The Cebu City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (CHAMP), also accredited by PhilHealth, is expected to reinforce the plan.

“Ang CHAMP kita nay makagamit niana. Plus, ang atong city hospital accredited sa PhilHealth. Of course, ang PhilHealth na mubayad. Ang katong balance, ang city government,” he said.

Details on eligibility are still being ironed out, but Archival stressed that priority will be given to the city’s “poorest of the poor.”

“Mao ni gusto nako mahibaw-an — poorest of the poor,” he said.

The city government is set to coordinate with national agencies to ensure indigent patients are properly identified and to prevent duplication of benefits.

Archival’s plan echoes Marcos’ “Bayad na Bill Mo” (BBM) or zero balance billing program, launched in May across 87 Department of Health (DOH) hospitals nationwide.

The initiative covers room charges, doctors’ fees, medicines, and procedures, with costs shared by PhilHealth and the DOH.

While hailed as a step toward universal healthcare, the program has encountered problems such as long patient queues and staff shortages. Health workers have cautioned that without added resources, service quality could decline.

Archival acknowledged these challenges but said Cebu City can make the program work if it carefully tailors the policy to its means.

“Okay, mao gyud ni ang akong gi tan-aw nga makatabang gyud kaayo ang atong city government,” the mayor said. “If mahuman na nato ang atong hospital, dili nata maglisod.”

He assured residents that once CCMC is completed and accredited, the city’s poorest patients can expect medical treatment without the burden of hospital bills.(TGP)