Hospitals group opposes stiffer penalties vs. refusal to treat emergency patients

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) on Saturday strongly opposed the law imposing stricter penalties against hospitals refusing to administer initial medical treatment to patients during emergency cases.

"Ang palagay ko po nabigyan siya ng maling advice (President Rodrigo Duterte). Kasi po tumutulong na po sa government hospital. Alam niyo naman po 'yan, pag di na tayo nakapila sa ano... di naman tayo makikita. So pupunta ka sa private. Ang mangyayari po gagawin ng private 'yung kailangan, di naman po papabayaan ng private eh," said PHAP president Dr. Rustico Jimenez said in a radio dzBB interview.

"Sa hearing pa lang po sinabi na namin na hindi na po kailangan 'yung bagong batas kasi meron na pong batas. Dapat hindi na po ginawa ng mga politiko natin 'yan eh. Nagpapaganda lang po sila ng papel. Hindi naman po nila nakikita 'yung ginagawa ng mga private hospitals and government hospitals especially sa emergency room," he added.

Jimenez said instead of penalizing private and government hospitals in emergency situations, the government should extend tax exemptions for these medical facilities.

"Ang ospital po at doktor patas na patas na po sa batas laban sa kanila. Palagi pong kontra sa ospital at doktor pero di nila naisip 'yung ginagawang kabutihan ng doktor at ospital," Jimenez said.

"Dapat po binigyan ng tax incentive 'yung ibang private hospital or government hospital na tumutulong sa ganyan para po yung pagbayad namin sa gamot, pang-sweldo namin ma-cover na kasi sa hearing po tinanong ko ang BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) kung mababayaran nila yan as tax incentive, di daw po pwede... So san po kukuha ng pang-abono ang ospital?" he added.

Republic Act. No. 10932 amends Batas Pambansa Bilang 702, also known as “An Act Prohibiting the Demand of Deposits or Advance Payments for the Confinement or Treatment of Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics in Certain Cases,” as amended by Republic Act. No. 8344.

Any official, medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical clinic who violates the provision of this act shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six months and one day but not more than two years and four months, or a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P300,000.00 or both, according to Section 4 of the RA 10932. — MDM, GMA News