Manila, Sept. 23 -- It's a big sigh of relief for families of patients confined at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC), knowing they do not have to shoulder out-of-pocket expenses upon the discharge of their loved ones under the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program.

Maryjoy Mercader, 26, of Barangay Pawa, Burauen, Leyte, has been at the hospital for three weeks as one of the watchers of four family members - her father, mother, brother, and niece - who were injured in a motorcycle accident on Sept. 5.

Three of her family members have already been discharged from the EVMC, while her father, Diorico, remains confined at the regional hospital while recovering from a leg amputation.

"The total hospital bill for our three patients was P...