DOH reminds hospitals that they cannot detain patients who are unable to pay their bills

The Department of Health (DOH) reminded hospitals that they cannot detain patients who are unable to pay their bills on time.

"We have a law which covers these  issues na bawal po tayo mag detain ng ating mga pasyente ," said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing on Monday, September 7.

“In the guidelines that we have, they can leave a promissory note with that promise, of course, that they have to pay, paano ito , in installment, kung kailangan ,” she added. 

Vergeire also added that hospitals should not refer patients to a lending firm in order for the latter to pay the medical bill. 

“It is not also  good practice that hospitals would be directing patients to lending facilities and all,” she said. 

Vergeire advised the hospitals to ask the patients for an identification card (ID), so they can still “track” them.

“Hindi talaga tama na nade-detain ang pasyente pero kailangan ang mga pasyente rin  po at pamilya ay makapag-iwan na para pong katunayan na babalik sila, and most of the time hospitals ask IDs and other documents. ,” she said. 

“Kasi siyempre alam nyo naman po ang mga ospital--mga entities din po ito na gumagastos so, they need din po na mabayaran din naman sila ,” she added.