ILOILO City – Ten district hospitals in Iloilo province received P9.7 million from the Department of Health.
The amount shall cover the indigent patients’ hospital bill balance exceeding their PhilHealth coverage, said Provincial Administrator Raul Banias.
Some poor patients are forced to acquire debts when their bills go beyond the case rate of PhilHealth, he said.
“Ang pasyente malipay kay wala na sila sang pangitaon nga pang-utangan ukon indi na sila makapanghulam pa,” Banias added.
The recipient hospitals and the corresponding amounts they received are as follows:
* Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial Hospital – P2,000,000
* Aleosan District Hospital – P500,000
* Ramon Tabiana District Hospital – P1,000,000
* Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial Hospital – P1,000,000
* Dr. Federico Roman Tirador Memorial District Hospital – P1,000,000
* Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital – P1,000,000
* Iloilo Provincial Hospital – P,1,000,000
* Jesus M. Colmenares District Hospital – P1,000,000
* Sara District Hospital – P700,000
* Barotac Viejo District Hospital – P500,000
The Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Dumangas and the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Passi City were not among the DOH recipients.
But capitol allotted P12 million for the same medical assistance for all 12 district hospitals, Banias disclosed. “One million [pesos] for each hospital.”
Banias said they are just awaiting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s approval of the supplemental budget that includes this amount. He said they hope the budget gets approved during the regular session this Tuesday.
Nine of 10 patients heading to district hospitals in Iloilo every day are poor, or indigent, the provincial government said./PN
