Charge nonresident hospital patients, CoA tells Manila gov’t

The Manila government should consider the possibility of collecting a minimal fee from hospital patients who do not reside in the city or have the means to pay so that it could generate funds for the maintenance of the medical facilities.

This was the opinion of the Commission on Audit (CoA), which said that the hospitals were beset by inadequate financial resources and the absence of operation standards and policies. These, it added, put in peril the continuous and speedy delivery of basic health services to the city’s residents.

The CoA also recommended that the Manila government look into the possibility of getting financial assistance or donations for its hospitals from the government, private entities, nongovernment organizations and lawmakers.

At the same time, the agency said the city government should ensure proper sanitation and hygiene in its hospitals which is essential in their operation and study alternative means of securing the services of a licensed and experienced janitorial services provider.

The six hospitals being run by the city government are Justice Jose Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Tondo, Ospital ng Maynila, Sta. Ana Hospital and Ospital ng Sampaloc.

Big help

CoA said that during an inspection of the Justice Jose Abad Santos hospital, Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital and Ospital ng Tondo, it learned that these facilities were a big help to residents of Manila and nearby cities.

This could be seen by the sheer number of patients there, it noted.

For 2010, Manila released a total of P1.557 billion for the operational requirements of the six hospitals.

The CoA learned that the hospitals were providing treatment and medicines free of charge, with the same services given to patients who do not live in Manila.

The hospitals depend wholly on the subsidy given by the city government for their operation and maintenance expenses, and have no other source of income, it said.

It also said that the number of maintenance personnel tasked with cleaning the floors and collecting garbage was not enough. Only one or two are assigned to each floor which is why the hospitals’ sanitation and hygiene could not be assured, it added.

CoA recommended that the city government consider collecting a minimal service charge from patients who are gainfully employed or are nonresidents of Manila.

The Manila City government, for its part, said that it had taken note of the CoA’s findings and would take appropriate action.