Citing incidents where hospitals allegedly denied emergency medical treatment to patients, Senator and Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go gave a stern warning to hospitals that refuse to administer emergency care to critically ill patients amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
This came after a patient died after reportedly being turned away by as many as six hospitals in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija, while another patient was also turned away by nine hospitals in Caloocan City without receiving any emergency treatment.
President Rodrigo Duterte has instructed the Department of Health and the Department of Justice to investigate these incidents.
Go echoed the President’s remarks that hospitals are the sanctuary of the sick and that they should not choose the ailment of the patient they are accepting. He also said that he supports the President’s stand to penalize hospitals that cannot attend to patients who need immediate medical attention.
In a statement, Senator Go stressed that “accepting patients into hospitals is of paramount importance”, especially given the COVID-19 emergency in the country.
“Katulad nga ng sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte, hindi maaaring tanggihan ng mga ospital ang sinumang pasyenteng lalapit sa kanila,” Go said.
The Senator cited Republic Act (RA) No. 10932 or the “Anti-Hospital Deposit Law” which declares it unlawful for a hospital or medical clinic to refuse to administer medical treatment and support to any patient.
“Ayon sa batas, kung hindi sapat ang kapasidad ng ospital, maaaring i-transfer ang pasyente sa ospital na may kakayahang magbigay ng tamang lunas,” Go stated.
However, the law provides that “such transfer shall be done only after necessary emergency treatment and support have been administered to stabilize the patient and after it has been established that such transfer entails less risks than the patient’s continued confinement”.
“Bago pa man ilipat ang pasyente sa ibang ospital na mas may kakayahang tumulong, dapat ay na-stabilize na muna ang pasyente na ito at dapat ang paglipat sa kanya ay hindi mas delikado sa kalagayan niya,” Go said.
The Senator warned that violators of the law will be dealt with and penalized. “Maaaring makulong ng 4 to 6 years at pagbayarin ng P500,000 to P1,000,000 ang mga opisyal ng ospital na involved sa ganitong gawain.”
“Maaari rin silang tanggalan ng license to operate ng DOH kung magpatuloy sila sa ganitong pamamalakad. The law may be harsh but it is the law.”
“Ilan pang pasyente ang mamamatay para matuto ang mga ospital na maging tapat sa kanilang tungkulin at sumunod sa utos ng Pangulo at sa batas? Hindi na dapat ito maulit muli. Dapat turuan ng leksyon ang mga ganitong ospital at managot ang mga kailangang managot,” he added.
Go assured that he will have the two incidents investigated by authorities and bring offenders to justice.
“Papaimbestigahan ko ito bilang Chairperson ng Committee on Health sa Senado. Ipapatawag natin ang mga ospital na ito sa tamang panahon and those responsible for these unlawful acts should and will be held accountable,” the Senator said, adding that the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice and the DOH are ready to conduct investigations of the hospitals that refused to provide treatment to patients.
“Sa ngayon, papaimbestiga rin natin ito sa NBI at DOH Health Facilities Oversight Board. Nagsabi na rin si DOJ Secretary Guevarra na handa silang imbestigahan at panagutin itong mga hospital officials who refuse to provide initial medical treatment in serious or emergency cases. Ipapasilip rin natin sa PhilHealth kung maaari silang tanggalan ng accreditation,” Go said.
Meanwhile, Go enjoined all hospitals and medical institutions to do the right thing in order to save the lives of their patients, especially amid the current health crisis brought by COVID-19.
“Nasa sitwasyon tayo na hirap na hirap talaga lahat lalo na ang ating health facilities. Walang bansa ang sapat na nakahanda sa krisis na ito. Kulang rin ang PPEs sa mga ospital kaya nailalagay sila sa peligro sa bawat pasyenteng ipinapasok nila,” Go said.
“Kulang rin ang kagamitan at kapasidad ng mga ospital kaya karamihan hindi na matanggap ng dagdag na pasyente. Pero hindi ito rason para hindi tayo magmalasakit sa may sakit. Kailangan natin gawin ang tama at lahat ng ating makakaya para mailigtas ang buhay ng kapwa nating Pilipino na nangangailangan ng tulong medikal,” he added.
