CEBU CITY—Sen. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, principal author of the recently passed enhanced anti-hospital deposit law, is asking the Department of Health (DOH) to investigate a Cebu-based private hospital for allegedly requiring a deposit before treating a wounded police officer.
Hontiveros, in Cebu on Tuesday for various activities, was referring to the case of PO3 David Naraja Jr., wounded during an operation that killed a suspected gun for hire.
Naraja was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital, but a hospital staff allegedly asked for a deposit before treating the police officer, who was hit in the face.
The hospital denied the accusation, claiming the family of Naraja “misinterpreted” the hospital’s partial billing amount quoted by its staff as a demand for deposit.
Naraja was later transferred to the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital, where his hospital expenses were covered by the hospital management.
Philippine National Police Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa even visited Naraja and gave the police officer a medal of commendation.
“This is no way to treat our selfless police personnel who risk life and limb to keep us all safe. Whether this incident was intentional or not, this must not be tolerated. There should be zero tolerance for cases like this,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros-Baraquel, also vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said she already requested a dialogue with Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino and the DOH regional office. She said her office would also talk to the private hospital to get its side.
“Through these dialogues, I hope to get to the bottom of this issue and for the appropriate authorities, especially the DOH, to find ways of being more proactive in responding to reports such as this, and properly implementing the enhanced anti-hospital deposit law,” Hontiveros-Baraquel said
She said the policy of asking for any deposit as a prerequisite for the confinement or medical treatment of a patient must become of the past.
“It has no space in any democratic society,” she said.
Under Hontiveros-Baraquel’s law, stricter penalties would be served on hospitals that demand any deposit or other forms of advance payment in exchange for medical treatment of an emergency patient.
Penalties now include imprisonment of up to four years to six years and fines ranging from P100,000 to P1 million.
The measure also gives authority to the DOH to revoke the license of a health facility after three repeated violations.
Chong Hua Hospital already issued a written apology to Naraja and PRO 7.
However, Espino said the hospital’s letter of apology will be referred to Camp Crame’s legal officer for resolution.
1 comment
All other hospitals doing the same! I had cut my head and was bleeding like crazy, and this damn people in the gullas clinic in Cebu asked my wife to pay first!