Manila, Jan. 7 -- The implementation of zero balance billing (ZBB) program in government hospitals has eliminated the need for patients to seek guarantee letters (GLs) from politicians, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said Wednesday.

Speaking at a Palace press briefing, Herbosa said ZBB was designed to remove political gatekeeping in access to medical care.

"Wala nang GL because may zero balance na. The reason we put up the zero balance billing is so hindi ka na dadaan sa politiko" (There are no more guarantee letters because there is now zero balance billing. The reason we put up zero balance billing is so patients no longer have to go through politicians), Herbosa said.

He said patients can now directly go to Department of Health (D...