DOH probing 77 complaints against hospitals for cash deposits

The Department of Health (DOH) is currently investigating 77 complaints against hospitals who may have violated Republic Act 10932 or the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law by asking for cash deposits from patients, according to a Friday report by Ivan Mayrina on 24 Oras.

According to the law, in emergencies or serious cases which may lead to a patient's death, it is unlawful for any medical official of a hospital or clinic to "request, solicit, demand, or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment" before administering basic emergency care.

"Yung mga kaso naman natin, for example, na hindi life-threatening or yung mga kaso natin na elective tinatawag natin. For example, operation na naka schedule ka," DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo said.

"Meron namang karapatan yung mga ospital na mag require ng deposit," he added.

DOH also reminded officials that hospital detention or the refusal to release a patient that cannot pay bills is not allowed. However, according to the law, this is only applicable to patients staying in public wards and not those staying in private rooms.

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi) explained that although this was the case, they took care of moving patients who are unable to pay to public hospitals to prevent an increase in their bills.

"Pag nagawa na 'yung mga test, lumalabas 'yung seriousness ng pasyente so dun nakikita na kailangan maraming gamot.  PHAPi president  Rustico Jimenez said.

"Mga specialized na gamot saka mahal so tumataas ang bill, so that's the time na hindi na makapagbayad ang pasyente," he added.

Although DOH acknowledged that hospitals also had bills to pay to keep their operations running, they asked doctors not to forget their responsibility to take care of those in need. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News