AT LAST, the poor and marginalized sector can heave a sigh of relief due to the signing into law of Republic Act (RA) 10932 which strengthens the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law and imposes “increased penalties for the refusal of hospital and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency or serious cases.”
Yes, some hospitals which bear the word "Foundation" in their names are brazenly violating the no deposit policy by requiring relatives of
patients to put up a deposit within 24 hours from the admission date or else.
Some patients were heard saying it is not the illness which hastens death but the outrageous bill.
In the published statement, under Section 1 of RA 10932, it is unlawful for any hospital officers and any medical practitioner to request, solicit demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for administering basic emergency care to any patient.
Most hospitals presently commit this malpractice so there should be strict monitoring as to compliance with this law.
Violations of the provisions of RA 10932 by any hospital official, medical practitioner or employee may mean imprisonment for six months to two years and a fine between P100,000 and P300,000 or both.
Even the management of hospitals which issues the no deposit, no admission policy, the director or officer of the facility will be imprisoned for four to six years or fined between P500,000 or P1 million or both.
As it is, lawyers will find more clients for litigation with the passing
of this new law.
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Congress and President Duterte have shown compassion for the poor due to immediate passing of RA 10931.
Another significant issuance is the free tuition bill for state-run universities and colleges. Under RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, students enrolled in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges and state-run technical-vocational institutions in the country are granted tuition-free privileges.
Exceptions are: students who have already attained a bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree whether from public or private institutions; students who fail to comply with the admission and retention policies of the SUC or LUC; students who fail to complete their undergraduate degree within a year after the period prescribed in their program; students with bachelor's degree and those with certificate or diploma for a technical-vocational course equivalent to at least National Certificate III and above; and students who fail in any course enrolled during the course of the program.