Manila: President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a bill that calls for higher penalties to hospitals and clinics that refuse to treat emergency patients who can’t afford a deposit or advance payment.
Organised groups of urban poor rejoiced at the signing of Republic Act 10392 — an amendment of the country’s Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.
“It is unlawful for a hospital or clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for administering basic emergency care to any patient,” said the health department, which quoted provisions of the bill that Duterte signed.
Hospital personnel who violate the law will be fined P100,000 (Dh7,316) but not more than P300,000 (Dh21,949), said the health department.
Earlier, fines for offenders ranged from P20,000 to P100,000.
At the same time, the director or officer of hospitals or clinics who were responsible for formulating a policy of requiring a deposit before treatment of cases shall be fined between P500,000 and P1 million, said the health department. Earlier, the fine for such an offence was pegged at between P100,000 and P500,000.
“The president, chairman, board of directors, or trustees and other officers of the health facility shall be solidarity liable for damages that may be awarded by the court to the patient-complainant,” said the health department.
A hospital or a clinic shall be held liable in case of patient’s death, permanent disability, serious impairment, or in the case of pregnant woman, permanent injury or loss of her unborn child — because of denial of admission due to lack of deposit and advance payment, said the health department, adding the law also allows a judge to penalise violators with imprisonment.
The third offence could pave the way for the revocation of a hospital or clinic’s license to operate, said the health department, adding that complainants should file cases before the health department’s facilities oversight board.
