MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) plans to expand its "zero balance" billing to some local government hospitals. DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo told The Manila Times on Tuesday that the agency was eyeing Level 3 local governnment hospitals due to their “service capabilities” and “budgetary constraints.” “Zero balance billing will not work if hospitals do not have the needed equipment, medicines, and specialists. Of course, everything will not work without funding,” Domingo said. Currently, the zero balance billing can only be availed at DOH-run hospitals. During the bicameral conference committee meeting, a Senate amendment in the general appropriations bill was introduced to expand the zero balance billing to local government-run hospitals, which the DOH supported.