Friday, August 31, 2007 ‘Hospital holiday’ gets no support in Cebu?
CEBU is not one with Manila-based hospitals in the clamor for a “hospital holiday” as a sign of protest against Republic Act 9449 or the Hospital Detention Law.
“We don’t observe that here,” Department of Health (DOH) 7 Assistant Director Lakshmi Legaspi told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
The Hospital Detention Law prevents private hospitals from barring the release of patients that have failed to settle their bills.
In an interview last May, DOH 7 Director Susana Madarieta also explained that protests against the law will fail to cause a stir in Cebu since Cebu-based hospitals were already implementing measures similar to those provided in the law, even before its enactment.
The Cebu Doctors’ Hospital confirmed that.
“That (the law) is actually for our benefit because we are practicing that kind of accommodation now,” hospital administrator Engr. Oscar Tuazon said.
Even private rooms are covered by it, said Tuazon.
Tuazon said that Cebu Doctors’ Hospital will definitely not be joining the “hospital holiday” called for by the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP).
“We are not. We don’t see anything wrong with the law,” he said.
Promissory notes
Safeguards are also in place, explained Tuazon. He was referring to the promissory note that has to be signed and a collateral that needs to be declared before the patient is released.
Tuazon admits, though, that patients do not always honor these.
A “hospital holiday” means that doctors will only treat emergency cases. PHAP announced it will be imposing the holiday between September and December.
Sun.Star Cebu tried calling two other hospitals, but has yet to get their stand on the issue. An employee from the Perpetual Succour Hospital said the medical director was too busy to grant an interview, while no one from Chong Hua Hospital would answer the call. (JGA)
