Indigent parents in Cebu can avail of free medical services for their children if a proposed ordinance before the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) is enacted into law.
The draft ordinance authored by PB Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III mandates provincial and district hospitals in Cebu to provide free medical care to children, ages zero to six years old, of indigent parents.
Martinez’s ordinance was referred to the PB committee on health during its regular session last Monday, May 4.
Qualified beneficiaries may avail of hospitalization or in-patient services, professional care services, diagnostics, laboratory and other medical examination services, use of operating and/or surgical rooms, prescription drugs available in the hospital pharmacy, and outpatient services, among others.
Beneficiaries and their indigent parents should not be charged for any medical care and attention given to them by the provincial or district hospital.
They should not be billed or be made to pay for whatever expenses, the draft ordinance reads.