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VIRUS TREATMENT IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS

COVID-19 patients shoulder cost of PPEs used during treatment –PHAPi


Coronavirus disease 2019 patients admitted in private hospitals shoulder the cost of personal protective equipment being used through the course of their treatment, the Private Hospitals Association Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) said on Friday.

"Matagal ko na pong panawagan sa DOH (Department of Health) kung pwede bigyan din ang private hospitals ng donated PPEs. Hindi po kami nakakakuha ng marami doon, pakonti-konti lang," PHAPi President Dr. Rustico Jimenez said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Nag-oorder pa kami sa ibang bansa. Bago po dumating 'yan mga isang buwan at mataas na ho 'yung presyo so saan po namin kukunin ang panggastos rito kung hindi rin namin icha-charge sa pasyente?"

Each PPE set costs around P1,800 to P2,000 and an admitted patient daily requires the attention of two nurses who regularly change their protective gear, Jimenez said.

"Palit po nang palit iyon every eight hours so mahina po 'yung anim o walong set sa 24 hours. Talagang macha-charge po ang pasyente," Jimenez said, adding, "Kung donated po [ang PPE] hindi na dapat icha-charge ng ospital."

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, COVID-19 patients are usually confined at hospitals for a period of two to three weeks.

Jimenez clarified that private hospitals do not impose any other additional charges to take advantage of the COVID-19 situation.

He reiterated his call for DOH and the private sector to also help the private hospitals secure enough donated PPEs amid the health emergency to ease the financial burden of the patients.

He said the hospitalization cost of a COVID-19 patient in a private hospital could cost up to P3 million.

"Pwede pang umabot ng P3 milyon kasi po ang gastos mo sa respirator everyday umaabot 'yun ng mga P20,000 to P30,000 a day. Eh 'yung mga gamot pa po at saka 'yung gagastusin na PPE kasi kung nandoon ka sa intensive care unit, 'yung mga tao na magbabantay sa'yo palit po ng palit po iyon," Jimenez said.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) said it would shoulder the full cost of treatment of COVID-19 patients until the end of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine on April 14.

Starting April 15, the state health insurer said it would implement a new benefit package for COVID-19 patients depending on severity of illness.

Under the new benefit package, coverage for patients with mild pneumonia is at P43,997, P143,267 for those with moderate pneumonia, P333,519 for those with severe pneumonia, and P786,384 for those with critical pneumonia.

PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales on Thursday said the agency considers covering the entire cost of treatment of COVID-19 patients belonging to the 18 million low-income families receiving emergency cash subsidies from the government. —Dona Magsino/LBG, GMA News

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