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Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Members, kin hit as hospital, insurance firm clash
* Controversy erupts over GSIS PGM Winston Garcia "unfair and uncalled for" demands
* Garcia wants hospital and radiologist to apologize to him and to GSIS
* DDH has given discounts worth P1.7 million pursuant to contract
THE Davao Doctors' Hospital (DDH) has stopped giving "hefty discounts" to patients who are members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and their dependents as a result of a conflict with the GSIS management over an agreement that has not been complied with by the government insurance firm.
This was learned Monday from Dr. Herminio A. Villano Sr., DDH president and CEO, who confirmed that he has issued a directive discontinuing the hefty discounts being enjoyed by all GSIS patients and their dependents admitted into the hospital.
The DDH management, through Dr. Villano, also issued a lengthy press statement on its decision to stop the rare privilege.
"GSIS entered into a contract with DDH whereby GSIS shall supply a P55 million equipment previously determined and identified by DDH under a usufruct for five years in exchange for DDH providing hefty discounts to all GSIS patients and their dependents admitted into the hospital," Villano said.
He said the contract was signed by the officials of both GSIS and DDH in March 2004. However, while DDH has been continuously giving the discounts since signing the agreement, GSIS has still to buy the equipment now more than a year later, he said.
When GSIS informed DDH in February 2005 of the brand of machine to be delivered, DDH pointed that the machine did not have all the specifications DDH wanted as spelled out in the contract, Dr. Villano bared.
To thresh out the problem, a delegation from the DDH board of directors met with GSIS officials led by President and General Manager Winston Garcia in Manila on March 8, 2005 to negotiate.
In that meeting, Villano said GSIS agreed to supply the missing specification.
However, on March 14, 2005, PGM Garcia wrote the DDH to submit the following three documents:
1. A letter of apology from Dr. Anatole Garcia, a radiologist of DDH, and the DDH addressed to the GSIS and PGM Garcia;
2. A guarantee by the board of directors of DDH that all necessary precautions and security measures will be instituted to protect the CT Scan, a property of the GSIS;
and 3. Assignment of a new radiologist who will be in charge of the CT scan and permanent exclusion and/or barring of Dr. Anatole Garcia from having anything to do with the CT scan.
In a statement issued by Dr. Villano Monday, the DDH denied having made verbally to any one or sent any letter to any GSIS official, which may be considered derogatory to any GSIS official or to GSIS.
"All the letters of DDH to any or all GSIS officials were reviewed and it sees nothing to merit the demands of PGM Garcia," the statement said.
"Dr. Anatole Garcia may have some negative observations/reservations about the machine to be delivered made thru a letter of appeal to the BOD of DDH and which was forwarded to GSIS but certainly, he had stated nothing to warrant the three demands," it said.
Villano said that the hospital's board of directors in a meeting on April 2, 2005 decided that it cannot comply with requirements number 1 and 3 asked for by GSIS for DDH has not done anything wrong that can be considered derogatory to GSIS or any of its officials.
The board contends that the imposition is "unfair and uncalled for."
Consequently, it decided to cancel discounts being given by the hospital to GSIS members and their dependents.
To date, Villano said the DDH has given discounts to a total of 576 sick GSIS members since November 2004.
He said the total discounts extended by DDH in line with the accord amounted to P1,769,318.75, showing an average discount of P3,071.73 given to each GSIS patient.
He said the highest single patient discount given was P60,004.50.
He said the DDH has submitted an appeal of its case to the GSIS board of trustees. Unfortunately, the GSIS board failed to take the case up because the board meeting had adjourned when the DDH appeal arrived.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (April 12, 2005 issue)
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