‘HIGHWAY ROBBERY’

Patients confined in tents being charged P1,000 per hour –solon

Some COVID-19 patients were who are staying in temporary tents at hospitals while waiting to be admitted are being charged P1,000 per hour, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite bared on Tuesday.

At a House Committee on Health meeting, Gaite added that the charge was not covered by PhilHealth. The lawmaker wanted to know if this was a policy of the national government.

"Pansamantalang nilagay muna sila sa mga tents and when they were billed out, apparently, PhilHealth does not cover the expense... medyo malaki rin... accordingly, P1,000 per hour ang singil nila. Ang sabi nga daig pa ang ICU and worst it is not covered by the PhilHealth," Gaite said.

In response, PhilHealth Acting Senior Vice President Neri Santiago said the coverage for tents was not included in the agency's policy or package.

"Sa ngayon hindi accredited 'yung mga tent at wala pang standards for that sa ngayon, so di po talaga siya mako-cover, 'yung nasa tents," Santiago said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque opposed the tent-charge practice and asked for the names of the hospitals concerned. He branded the practice as "highway robbery" and called it unacceptable.

"For eight hours, that is P8,000... hindi po tama 'yan and mayroon po tayong benefit package ng PhilHealth and we already upgraded this benefit package to be inclusive of different level of accommodation," Duque said.

Gaite said he would provide the name of the hospital to the committee.

Gaite also requested PhilHealth to revisit its policies on this matter, especially since a significant number of patients were finding it difficult to be admitted in hospitals because most are already at full capacity.

Santiago then agreed that they will check their package so that the temporary tents will be included. — DVM, GMA News