Elderly man wants answers on complaint vs hospital

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A 70-year-old senior citizen admitted at a private hospital here sought the help of health officials as to why his complaint has not been acted upon for nearly a year.

Manuel Bautista of Pilar Village in Barangay San Isidro told Sun.Star Pampanga over the weekend that he lodged a complaint against Mother Theresa of Calcutta for alleged overpricing of medicines at its pharmacy on July 13, 2012 before the Department of Health (DOH)-Central Luzon.

“Mag-iisang taon na ang complaint ko pero ang tanging aksyon ay iyung endorsement lang ng DOH kung saan pinapasagot ang ospital tungkol sa overpricing ng gamot at ang pagbabawal na bumili ng mga ito sa mga drugstore sa labas dahil policy daw nila ito,” he said.

Bautista, who was hospitalized for his diabetic foot, referred to the first endorsement of DOH-Central Luzon’s Center for Health Development signed by Director Leonita Gorgolon, asking the hospital administration to comment within seven days upon receipt. Records show that the document was received at the hospital on July 31, 2012.

“Ang totoo po niyan, nung nandoon ako, gusto nilang putulin ang paa ko. Buti na lamang at pumunta ako sa ibang ospital kung saan ay operasyon lang at hindi putol ang ginawa. Nagbayad pa rin ako sa Mother Theresa ng mahigit P40,000 kung saan ang bill ko sa pharmacy nila ay umabot ng P25,511,” he said. Jovi T. De Leon/Sunnex