Cebu City Medical Center seeks fee increases

CEBU CITY, Philippines - The Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) will ask the city government for a minimal increase in hospital fees and charges, and to bill services that are being offered for free. Dr. Myrna Go, acting CCMC chief, has said the additional income they can get from the rate adjustments will help them cope with the increasing cost of hospital supplies and medicines, and allow them to defray cost of services given to indigents. Considering the very meager resources and budget from city government, Dr. Rodolfo Bigornia, the mayor’s consultant for CCMC, agreed with the need to increase fees. Go said they first proposed to the City Council to impose charges on emergency room (ER) and out-patient department (OPD) services as early as 2003. That time, they proposed to charge P50 for every consultation made at the OPD, where the service is currently being given for free. Consultation fees in private clinics and hospitals now range between P300 and P500. They also proposed to increase the P200 fee for minor surgeries performed at the OPD. – Sun.Star Cebu For the full story, click on link.