THE ADMINISTRATION of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., aims to reduce, if not eliminate, out-of-pocket hospitalization expense for Filipinos, the Palace said on Wednesday.

“Ideally, no Filipino would have to pay anything when they are hospitalized,” said Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro in Filipino during a news briefing.

“So as much as possible, the President’s aspiration is to reduce, or if possible, eliminate entirely the out-of-pocket expenses of our countrymen when they are hospitalized.”

This comes as Mr. Marcos promised to provide all local government units (LGUs) with a patient tranport vehicle (PTV) by year-end at the distribution ceremony at Quirino Grandstand in Manila on the same day. He said 680 units have already been distributed since the start of his presidency in June 2022.

The government handed over an additional 397 vehicles to LGUs across Luzon on Wednesday, with 123 more set for Eastern Visayas and 105 for Mindanao. The vehicles were procured through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Under the latest distribution, 397 units will be allocated as follows: 30 units to Ilocos, 72 to Cagayan Valley, 100 to Central Luzon, 27 to Calabarzon, 59 to Mimaropa, 64 to Bicol Region, and 35 to the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“With the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), we are expanding the insurance coverage,” Mr. Marcos said in Filipino, according to a transcript from his office.

“We are lowering the payment and the fees because right now, patients still have to contribute something when they get checked or treated. We are gradually reducing the patient contribution,” he added.

The President noted that if the government successfully reduces patient contributions and fixes the economy, “then maybe we can reach the point where patients won’t have to contribute anything anymore.”

The President underscored that the initiative goes beyond mere vehicle distribution, as it forms part of a broader plan to strengthen the national healthcare system.

“So, it is an ongoing program,” he added. “It just so happens that this release is mostly for Luzon, but we will continue doing this, and we will not stop until we have provided for all the needs of our LGUs and fulfilled their requirements for these PTVs.”

According to the Chief Executive, the coronavirus pandemic showed several gaps in the country’s healthcare system. These lessons, he added, are now being applied to build stronger systems.

“We applied those lessons to our programs, not just to these patient transport vehicles but to our entire healthcare system, including our hospitals and even PhilHealth,” he noted.

Mr. Marcos earlier approved a P2.2-billion budget to procure and distribute 1,000 PTVs nationwide. Each unit is equipped with essential medical tools, including a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, and other supplies to ensure safe and timely patient transport.

Unlike ambulances, PTVs are designated for non-life-threatening cases, such as scheduled medical visits, routine checkups, and hospital discharges. The use of emergency blinkers and sirens is strictly prohibited. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana