The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) is urging Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to issue an executive order that would regulate visiting medical consultants in province-operated hospitals.
This after DOH-7 has received complaints concerning private practitioners who allegedly collected fees over and above PhilHealth benefits.
“It’s true that we have this kind of problem, specifically for visiting consultants in our provincial hospitals,” said Dr. Jaime Bernadas, regional director of DOH-7.
The issue was raised by San Remegio Liga ng mga Barangay President Antonio Villamor during the relaunching of the Botika ng Bayan in the same town on Friday (June 20).
He said that one of his constituents who had undergone a caesarean (CS) procedure, paid P50,000 despite being a PhilHealth beneficiary.
The paid amount served as the professional fee of the private doctor in Bogo Provincial Hospital.
Bernadas, however, said that the governor is now in the process of issuing an order to address the matter.
“What I am insinuating to the governor, once a patient is certified indigent and member of the sponsored program, no over and above payment shall be collected,” Bernadas said.