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Hospitals can't charge for donated PPEs —DOH Usec. Vergeire


Hospitals are not allowed to charge its patients for personal protective equipment (PPE) which were donated to them amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said on Monday. 

“Yes, they are allowed to charge [for PPEs] under the Department Order 2020 0269, but charging for PPEs which are donated to them is strictly prohibited," she said in a press briefing.

“We have inventory of these [donated PPEs] para ma-monitor natin kung may overpricing,” the Department of Health official added.

Likewise, Vergeire said hospitals can only charge patients a portion of the administrative cost of the hospital’s purchase of the PPEs. 

The administrative cost is broken down to: the accommodation that the hospital provides for the COVID-19 patients and the number of health workers needed to take care of the patients, she explained.

“The allowable amount [to be charged] is 30% of the total administrative cost,” Vergeire said.

“Kung nasa intensive care unit ang pasyente, critical care iyon kaya mas maraming magagamit na PPE [ang mga health care workers]. Kung nasa ward [na may ibang pasyente], 'pag nag-rounds ang doktor, isahan lang iyon, kaya mas kaunti ang paggamit ng PPE roon,” she added.

Enough supply 

As this developed, Vergeire said the country has enough supply of Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 testing kits until the end of the year, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. 

“At the onset, marami pong nag-donate. Marami rin po tayong pinrocure. Mayroon pong nasa warehouse. Iyong iba ginagamit na po ng ating mga laboratories,” she said. 

“We have enough supply until the end of the year, and we will be ready to procure if needed,” Vergeire added.

The Philippines has recorded 304,226 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday. Of this number, 252,510 recovered while 5,344 died. 

The number of active COVID-19 cases is at 46,372. —KG, GMA News

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