BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed a resolution urging the City Health Office (CHO) to conduct a massive information campaign on Republic Act (RA) 10932, an act that strengthens the anti-hospital deposit law.
The SP said the CHO should do this in coordination with the officials of all 61 barangays in the city.
Resolution proponent Councilor Sonya Verdeflor said there were many cases of patients dying in private hospitals for not receiving immediate medical treatment due to failure to pay in advance.
Verdeflor added that private hospitals that refuse to administer initial medical treatment for patients under serious conditions are penalized under Philippine law.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA 10932 on Aug. 2017, which increased the penalties for erring hospitals under RA 8344.
“It shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as prerequisite for administering basic emergency care, for confinement or medical treatment, or to refuse to administer medical treatment and support to any patient,” part of RA 10932 read.
It added: “Any official, medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or medical clinic who violates the provisions of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than six months and one day but not more than two years and four months, or a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P300,000 or both.”
The law also said “imprisonment of four to six years, or a fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P1 million or both are imposed upon directors of hospitals or clinics responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies or instructions violative of this Act.”
Three repeated violations shall result in the revocation of the health facility’s license to operate, it added./PN
