Hospitalfees burden townfolk

“OVERPRICED” hospital services and fees charged for use of ambulances were concerns raised by barangay officials during a consultation with Capitol officials in Balamban town yesterday.
It was the third out-of-town forum of the Provincia Board this year to listen to problems from the grassroots.
A 73-year-old indigent patient was billed P16,000 after staying four days at the Balamban Provincial Hospital, said municipal councilor Primo Paulin.
The hospital gave the man’s family a small strip of paper with the amount written on it without a breakdown. The patient was suffering high-risk pneumonia and was treated with expensive antibiotics.
Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, head of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), said the patient can be discharged once cleared by the hospital. She advised the daughter to avail of a Senior Citizens card for her father to sign up for Philheath so the patient wouldn’t have to pay anything.
Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said the hospital should have clearly explained to the family the benefit of Philhealth so the daughter would have availed of it as soon as possible.
“There is no room for arrogance. All patients who come to the shopital are hungry, tired and worried about money. We, the healthy ones, should be the ones to be more understanding,” she said.
Baliwagan barangay captain Virigina Cuyos complained about the P1,000 fee for using an ambulance of the municipal government while the hospital’s ambulance was free to use. “We appeal to you to abolish this fee,” she said. Dr. Genosolango said indigents will not be made to pay.