By Zaldy Comanda
BAGUIO CITY – The city government here has admonished all private hospitals in the city against refusing to administer medical treatment for any patient appearing at their doorsteps or emergency rooms, especially during this period of extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The city council has passed a resolution, stating that every hospital to adhere to their mandate to serve anyone needing medical attention.
Baguio City Council Presiding Officer and Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan said the resolution was passed after the reported refusal of a private hospital here to give proper medical treatment to a certain Jayson Patrick Reyes before he reportedly died at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).
Olowan emphasize that Republic Act 10932, otherwise known as the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, makes it unlawful for a hospital or medical clinic to refuse to administer medical treatment and support to any patient that appears at the doorsteps or emergency room of hospitals in the different parts of the country.
The approved resolution will be forwarded to the members of the boards of directors and management of the different hospitals in the city, and, at the same time, be widely circulated through media to encourage residents to assert their right to be rendered proper medical treatment.
At present, there are four private hospitals and a government hospital in the city, while there is a private hospital and a government hospital in the nearby capital town of La Trinidad, Benguet.
Olowan expressed optimism the board and management of the different private and public hospitals in the city will adhere to the spirit of the approved resolution to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents that will result to the loss of lives needing health care services.