FILE PHOTO: President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of PCO
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is celebrating his 67th birthday on Friday with a treat: government to pay for medical bills and services at Level 3 public hospitals on September 13.
Marcos announced this on the sidelines of the “Agri Puhunan at Pantawid” (APP) program launching in Nueva Ecija.
In a separate statement, the Department of Health (DOH) said the government will cover all inpatient, outpatient, and emergency medical services at all Level 3 public hospitals nationwide.
The president’s birthday treat should include hospital bills, drugs and medicines, laboratory and diagnostic procedures, dental services, implants, therapy and rehabilitative services, chemotherapy, and dialysis.
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To avail of the free services, the DOH said patients must undergo an interview and evaluation at the hospital’s Medical Social Services (MSS). The assistance will be provided through the DOH’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program.
“Layunin din po namin na matulungan ang ating mga kababayan na may pangangailangang medikal,” Marcos said in a chance interview.
(We also aim to help our countrymen with medical needs.)
“Kaya po sa araw na ito, sasagutin po natin ang lahat ng bayarin ng mga pasyente sa lahat ng pampublikong Level 3 hospital sa bansa katulad ng Dr. Paulino Garcia Memorial Hospital dito sa inyo,” he added.
(So on this day, we will answer all the fees of patients in all public Level 3 hospitals nationwide such as Dr. Paulino Garcia Memorial Hospital here for you.)
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In another event also in Nueva Ecija, Marcos said the free medical bills will be funded by the Office of the President.
“Naglaan po tayo ng lagpas sa P300 million na pondo mula sa aking tanggapan upang gawing libre ang serbisyo ng mga pampublikong tertiary hospitals sa bansa kagaya ng PGH (Philippine General Hospital) sa Manila, sa Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center sa Lungsod ng Cebu at ang Amai Pakpak sa Marawi at iba pang government hospital,” he said.
(We have allocated more than P300 million in funds from my office to make the services of public tertiary hospitals in the country free such as the PGH in Manila, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City and the Amai Pakpak in Marawi and other government hospitals.)
“Sa mga pasyente po nito, sagot na po namin ang mga gastusin sa araw na ito, wala na po kayong kailangan alalahanin sa usapin ng mga babayaran,” he added.
(To these patients, we have answered the expenses for this day, you don’t have to worry about the matter of the fees.)