Laoag City, Aug. 4 -- The Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte has been implementing the zero-balance billing program for six years for select patients, an official said Monday.

"About six years ago, all DOH (Department of Health) hospitals were instructed to implement that, but it is difficult for other hospitals to comply," Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza, MMMH&MC medical center chief, said in a speech during the celebration of National Hospital Week.

"The important thing was, we started to implement when (we) were ordered to," she added.

Otayza said the program applies to patients confined in wards or basic accommodations.

Over the years, Otayza said this program has been beneficial not...