Some hospitals charge patients waiting in temporary tents P1-K per hour – solon

MANILA, Philippines — Some hospitals are apparently charging P1,000 per hour to patients staying in temporary tents at hospitals while waiting to be admitted to a room, a lawmaker revealed Tuesday.

During the House health committee’s online meeting,  Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite cited a case in which a patient had to pay P1,000 per hour for temporary tent accommodation.

Gaite said that the temporary tent accomodations were not covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“Pansamantalang nilagay muna sila sa mga tents (They were housed in tents for the time being) and when they were billed out, apparently, PhilHealth does not cover the expense. Medyo malaki rin (A bit expensive),” Gaite said.

Gaite said accordingly, the hourly rate is P1,000, making it more expensive than ICU and, worse, it is not covered by PhilHealth.

According to PhilHealth Acting Senior Vice President Neri Santiago, the tents are not included in PhilHealth’s package, adding there are no “standards” to cover for that so far.

Gaite believes that such policy should be revisited because it is not the patient’s fault that they have to wait to be admitted.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III blasted such practices in some hospitals, calling them unacceptable.

“I cannot countenance a P1,000 per hour charge… Therefore, eight hours, that is P8,000? Hindi po tama ‘yan,” Duque said.

“Mayroon po tayong benefit package ng PhilHealth and we already upgraded this benefit package to be inclusive of different levels of accommodation,” he added.

(We have a PhilHealth benefit package that has already been upgraded to provide various types of accommodation.)

abc