A health worker wearing a protective suit is disinfected inside a portable tent outside the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center during an enhanced community quarantine to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Manila, Philippines, Monday April 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reminded hospitals that personal protective equipment (PPE) given to them as donations or those provided by the government must not be charged to their patients.
In an online press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that patients can only be charged for the use of PPEs if the hospital purchased them on its own.
“Kung ang mga PPEs na ginagamit sa ospital ay nagmula sa donasyon, hindi po maaring pabayaran ito ng ospital sa kanilang mgapasyente,” Vergeire said.
(If the PPEs used at the hospital come from a donation, the hospital cannot charge it to its patients.)
The Health official called on the public to report to their office any form of abuse committed by hospitals amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Reports may be coursed through the DOH COVID-19 hotline at 894-26843 and 8651-7800 local 1149 to 1150.