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HEAVIER PENALTY FOR ANTI-HOSPITAL DEPOSIT LAW VIOLATORS
Heavier penalty for non-acceptance of patients due to shortage or lack of deposit in hospitals is being pushed forward in the Senate.
According to DOH, the number of related complaints about the issue has been alarmingly increasing to almost 300% since last year.
The Republic Act 8344,Section 1 states that:
" In emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any proprietor, president, director, manager or any other officer, and/or medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for confinement or medical treatment of a patient in such hospital or medical clinic or to refuse to administer medical treatment and support as dictated by good practice of medicine to prevent death or permanent disability:
Provided, That by reason of inadequacy of the medical capabilities of the hospital or medical clinic, the attending physician may transfer the patient to a facility where the appropriate care can be given, after the patient or his next of kin consents to said transfer and after the receiving hospital or medical clinic agrees to the transfer: Provided, however, That when the patient is unconscious, incapable of giving consent and/or unaccompanied, the physician can transfer the patient even without his consent: Provided, further, That such transfer shall be done only after necessary emergency treatment and support have been administered to stabilize the patient and after it has been established that such transfer entails fewer risks than the patient’s continued confinement: Provided, furthermore, That no hospital or clinic, after being informed of the medical indications for such transfer, shall refuse to receive the patient nor demand from the patient or his next of kin any deposit or advance payment: Provided, finally, That strict compliance with the foregoing procedure on transfer shall not be construed as a refusal made punishable by this Act."
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VIDEO: Pagbabawal sa paniningil ng deposito sa pasyente kapag ...
Provided, That by reason of inadequacy of the medical capabilities of the hospital or medical clinic, the attending physician may transfer the patient to a facility where the appropriate care can be given, after the patient or his next of kin consents to said transfer and after the receiving hospital or medical clinic agrees to the transfer: Provided, however, That when the patient is unconscious, incapable of giving consent and/or unaccompanied, the physician can transfer the patient even without his consent: Provided, further, That such transfer shall be done only after necessary emergency treatment and support have been administered to stabilize the patient and after it has been established that such transfer entails fewer risks than the patient’s continued confinement: Provided, furthermore, That no hospital or clinic, after being informed of the medical indications for such transfer, shall refuse to receive the patient nor demand from the patient or his next of kin any deposit or advance payment: Provided, finally, That strict compliance with the foregoing procedure on transfer shall not be construed as a refusal made punishable by this Act."
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Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Bill 216 increasing the penalty to Php500,000 to Php1,000,000 and revocation of license and closure for the hospitals who will do it repeatedly.
"Seven out of ten Filipinos die without ever having seen a doctor, and more than 50% of barangays in the Philippines do not have a barangay health station. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) provides ‘no balance billing’ to the indigent in public health facilities, but the number of private hospitals outnumbers the number of public hospitals and the trend towards privatization will further widen that gap. Despite inroads being made towards advancing universal health in the past decade, health care in the Philippines largely remains inaccessible to the poor. This reality hits the hardest when confronted with an emergency medical situation." , the bill stated.
In a related situation, the Playo couple lost their child after being refused by a private hospital because they do not have the money for the deposit.
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Mang Emiliano also lost her wife who suffered stroke because they failed to give what the hospital is asking: the initial deposit amounting to Php40,000.
According to Philhealth President Ramon Ariztosa Jr, members can use their Philhealth benefits as a deposit or the hospitals can automatically admit them for just being a mere member of Philhealth.Unfortunately,not all the hospitals follow by the rule.
The Committee on Health is eager to push the bill despite of the opposing hospitals for the sake of the rights of the patients.
Emergency cases that needs to be admitted without deposit includes high risk pregnant patients.
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PHAP President: No Downpayment Required in Cases of Emergency!
The Private Hospital Association of The Philippines or PHAP is giving public reminder that in case of emergency, it is strictly prohibited to ask for deposit or down payment in case of emergency.
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Anyone who is proven guilty of defying this policy could be suspended or license could be revoked.
Dr. Rustico Jimenez, President of PHAP said, "save the patient first, forget about the money".
VIDEO: Pagbabawal sa paniningil ng deposito sa pasyente kapag sa panahon ng emergency cases, ipinaalala ng PHAPLaw penalizing any doctor or hospital who asks for down payment in emergency situation
Posted by UNTV Life on Tuesday, March 1, 2016
He also advised that instead of posting in social media, patient should file formal complain in Philippine Regulatory Commission or Department of Health.
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Last week, a post in the social media went viral when a doctor from UST named, Dr. Ana Liezel Sahagun, refused a patient who was in labor and in need of emergency care. According to the husband, it was midnight and they only have Php 6,000 emergency money, the doctor was asking for Php 20,000, but when the couple pleaded that they be accepted, they were refused admission and the baby eventually died.
Here is the video of Dr. Willie Ong's visit and interview with the couple
©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO
