Admit PUIs or face sanctions, DoH warns hospitals as Covid-19 cases rise to 49

THE DEPT. OF HEALTH warned private hospitals refusing patients with or suspected of having the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) of sanctions, as the number of cases jumped to 49 from 33.

“They don’t have the right to refuse, lahat ng (all) private hospitals ay kailangan tumulong sa gobyerno ngayon (have to help the government now),” said Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing in Manila last week.

“Nagpalabas ang Philhealth ng circular at advisory, advising all hospitals accredited under them, na hindi dapat sila tumanggi sa mga pasyente (PhilHealth released a circular and avisory advising all its accredited hospitals not to refuse patients),” she added.

Vergeire reminded accredited hospitals that they have signed a “performance commitment” with PhilHealth and warned that “if they violate any of these agreements, mayroong sanction ang PhilHealth sa kanila (PhilHealth will sanction them),” Vergeire said.

“Kailangan (It is important that) at the very least pag pumunta ang pasyente sa kanila dapat na ma-assess muna nila ang mga ito at masabi kung ano ang dapat gawin sa pasyente (if a patient goes to them, he or she should first be assessed and told what to do). Kung di naman kailangan i-confine (If he or she do not need to be confined), okay lang pauwiin pero dapat bigyan ng advice (it’s okay to let he or she go but they should first be given advice),” she added.

The assistant secretary also dismissed reported claims of some hospitals that their facilities were full due to the influx of carriers or patients suspected to have the respiratory disease.

“Yung utos ng (The order of the) Department of Health, kakaunting beds lang naman iyon (these are just a few beds)… Mayroon pang natirang (There is still) 90-95 percent of their bed capacity para sa ibang pasyente (for other patients),” she said.

             “Ang pinapareserve lang ay mga (What we are reserving are) private rooms, because we want to have it as an isolation room,” she added. John Eric