Hike in hospital rates due to inflation —PHAPI

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) on Saturday blamed inflation for the recent rate hike in private hospitals.

"Actually, nag-umpisa yan mga last year pa, mga around 5% more or less because of yung inflation nga po na dama natin," said PHAPI President Dr. Jose Rene de Grano in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. 

(It started last year, around 5% more or less because of the inflation we're experiencing.)

"Ngayong 2025, dahil patuloy po ang pag-increase ng mga expenses ng ospital, yung mga cost ng goods, supply, medicine, etc., even pagtaas ng suweldo ng ating mga kawani ay 'yung ibang ospital po nagdagdag pa ng additional 5%," he added. 

(Now in 2025, because hospital expenses continue to increase, the costs of goods, supplies, medicine, etc. even with the increase in the salaries of our staff, other hospitals have added an additional 5%.)

De Grano explained that the hike in prices includes room rates and laboratory fees, among others. 

"Kasi po yung mga ingredients na ginagamit natin sa laboratory, yung mga equipment na ginagamit natin sa laboratories, lahat po yan ay nagtaasan," De Grano explained. 

(Because of the ingredients we use in the laboratory and the equipment we use in the laboratories, prices for those have increased.)

However, De Grano said that the increase in PhilHealth coverage makes the rate increase more manageable for patients. 

"'Tong year na to tumaas din ng almost double, around 95% din na tumaas yung benefits natin sa PhilHealth," he said. 

(This year, our PhilHealth benefits have almost doubled, increasing by around 95%.)

"Halimbawa, ang bill niyo 50,000, dati nababawas ay 20,000, eh tumaas na naging 70,000 eh ang inyo namang PhilHealth tumaas naman ng 30,000 to 35,000. Ang ibig sabihin unti lang o halos hindi niyo mararamdaman na may increase talaga," said De Grano. 

(For example, your bill is 50,000 and 20,000 was covered by PhilHealth. Now it has increased to 70,000 but PhilHealth coverage also increased by 30,000 to 35,000. This means that you will only gradually or almost not feel that there is an increase.)

De Grano, meanwhile, also assured patients that he has told their member hospitals to also improve their services amid the rate increase. 

"Ang siansabi naming miyembro ng ospital ay kung magtataas man kayo eh improve your services po… Justify yung pagtataas niyo ng rates na yan." 

(What we hospital members are saying is that if you are going to increase rates, improve your services. Justify your rate increase.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News