THE Department of Health (DOH) wants the removal from the scope of ‘Zero Balance Billing’ drivers who meet accidents due to being drunk or for not wearing helmets.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa noted that the DOH continues to record road traffic injuries involving drivers under the influence of liquor or not wearing helmets or seatbelts.
Data shows that of the 5,083 road traffic injuries recorded by the DOH in the Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance Data in July 2025, 3,382 (66.5%) involved motorcycles. Of the number too, 3,197 (94.5%) were not wearing helmets while 205 were intoxicated while 38 died due to serious injuries.
Herbosa said the DOH will shoulder the bills of victims of road crash and will need not pay medical procedure, operation, medicines, laboratory and other expenses in the hospital, if the patient is in basic accommodation.
The DOH is reportedly studying the formulation of pollicy to exclude from the Zero Balance Billing those who are involved in ‘drunk driving’ or traffic violations like not wearing helmets.
He said that drivers or motorists must be held liable if they violate traffic regulations.
The DOH reserves the Zero Balance Billing for patients who are law-abiding citizens, he added.
