DOH vows to resolve 77 complaints against hospitals

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) plans to resolve by March next year the 77 complaints filed against various hospitals nationwide for illegally detaining patients who were unable to settle their bills.

Assistant Health Secretary Charade Mercado-Grande said they are striving to “give justice” to the patients who were detained by the hospitals.

Under Republic Act No. 9439, or the antihospital detention law, it is unlawful for any hospital to detain patients just because of their inability to pay their hospital bills. —Jovic Yee