Zero hospital billing is achievable in Pasig – mayoral aspirant Sarah Discaya
“Zero hospital billing, along with quality medical services, would be a great help in maintaining the health of Pasigueños who can’t afford treatment in private hospitals.”
Mayoral aspirant Sarah Discaya said that as a progressive city, Pasig has the financial capacity to provide its residents with “zero hospital billing.”
According to Discaya, who is widely known as Ate Sarah in Pasig, it is essential for her fellow Pasigueños to have adequate access to affordable, inclusive, and high-quality medical services that should not have to be demanded but instead be readily provided by the local government.
“Zero hospital billing is actually doable because Pasig is one of the country’s most progressive cities. If this can be done in provinces, why can’t we do it here in our city?” Discaya said in an interview.
She emphasized that “zero hospital billing” would greatly benefit the less fortunate Pasigueños, ensuring they no longer have to worry about medical expenses when they need to see a doctor or seek treatment.
“Pasigueños desperately need zero hospital billing and quality medical services available in public hospitals and healthcare centers,” she stated.
Discaya also shared her vision of providing effective, sufficient, and comprehensive healthcare services
in Pasig’s public hospitals so that underprivileged residents would no longer have to rely on private hospitals due to a lack of facilities or medications in government-run institutions.
“We want patients in public hospitals to feel safe and confident, not afraid that the hospital might be their ‘final destination.’ Our goal is to provide efficient and reliable healthcare services in public hospitals so they won’t have to seek treatment in expensive private institutions,” Discaya added.
PASIG’s DECLINE
IN CITY RANKINGS
Pasig City dropped in the 2024 Rankings of Highly Urbanized Cities under the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)—falling from 6th place in 2019 to 9th place in 2024.
A major factor in the city’s decline was government efficiency, which includes essential public services such as healthcare, peace and order, education, and social protection.
Additionally, some senior citizens have voiced their concerns, saying that the healthcare benefits they currently receive from the local administration are insufficient.
This concern was what motivated Discaya to push for expanded and improved medical services for the elderly and the youth in Pasig.
HEALTH SERVICES
FOR ALL
Discaya reaffirmed her commitment to the people of Pasig, stating that win or lose, she will continue to conduct large-scale medical missions across different parts of the city to address the healthcare needs of its residents.
As a builder, Ate Sarah envisions transforming Pasig into a ‘smart city’ equipped with modern facilities, including ‘smart hospitals’ that feature advanced technology and an adequate number of medical professionals.
