DOH: Over 7,000 cases filed vs healthcare facilities in 2018

MANILA, Philippines – Over 7,000 administrative cases against healthcare facilities nationwide due to negligence have been filed in 2018, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Tuesday, amid the dialysis claims issue hounding PhilHealth and a dialysis center.

“For 2018, nga lang meron tayong 7,213 cases pero iba diyan maraming kaso for one institution hindi na lang one unit for each yung iba may isa, dalawa ganun,” Duque said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer.

Duque also said the Department of Health’s internal cleansing of accredited hospitals is still ongoing.

“Patuloy pa ang cleansing at pagsampa ng kaso kung  talagang may problema sa kanilang pamumuno, inefficient at iyon nga may negligence. Marami kaming mapalulutang na masamang pamamalakad at kinakailangang sampahan ng kaso na administratibo,” he said.

(The internal cleansing and files of cases if negligence is proven are ongoing.  We will pinpoint such cases that merit the filing of administrative cases.)

Duque explained that they need to thoroughly review the cases and consider the shortage of hospitals in the Philippines.

“Minsan kasi pagpalagay mo ang isang ospital may isang kaso o dalawa kung nirevoke mo yung accreditation, saan mo papapuntahin yung pasyente? Lalo kung konti yung ospital sa probinsya o sa isang region magiisip ulit kailangan pag-aralan,” he said.

(You also have to consider cases where a  hospital or healthcare facility is facing several cases, where will patient go if the licenses are revoked? Especially in areas with few hospitals, such should be carefully assessed.)   (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)