House passes bill vs hospital deposits
The House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a bill that increases penalties on hospitals and clinics requiring cash deposit or advance payment before a patient in an emergency case is admitted.
House Bill 5159 seeks to “strengthen the provision of emergency health care service and prohibit the demand for cash deposit in hospitals for emergency cases.”
The committee on health chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelita Tan endorsed the bill, which is a consolidation of two measures authored by Reps. Jose Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City and Tomasito Villarin of party-list group Akbayan.
The measure would amend the Marcos-era law Batas Pambansa 702 or “An Act Prohibiting the Demand of Deposits of Advance Payments for the Confinement or Treatment of Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics in Certain Cases.”
Tan said despite the law, there are still complaints about hospitals or clinics turning away patients with emergency or serious conditions because of failure to make a deposit or advance payment.
Belmonte said there are instances “where patients in emergency or serious cases suffer severe loss of blood or worse, die while being transported to more distant medical facilities.”
“This situation can be remedied if there are nearby hospitals or clinics that can provide emergency health care at no cost to the patient… The right to emergency service to save one’s life should never be denied due to lack of sufficient funds,” he said.
Villarin said the rising incidence of patients being refused medical care due to failure to make a deposit must be stopped.
“It’s the patient’s life on the line. He’s already on the verge of death, and you will ask him to show his money first? Money can be earned and payment eventually made, but life lost is lost forever,” he said.
Under the bill, the doctor on duty or medical staff at a hospital or clinic where a patient is brought would determine whether it is an emergency or serious case that could lead to loss of life or disability and/ or miscarriage, in the case of a pregnant woman.
Such personnel would face imprisonment of six months to two years or a fine of P100,000 to P300,000 (up from P20,000 to P100,000) if they turn away such patient.
If such decision is based on hospital policy or upon instruction of management, the responsible hospital officer would face imprisonment of four years to six years and/ or a fine of P500,000 to P1 million (up from P100,000 to P500,000), in addition to damages the court may award to a complainant.