By ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
President Duterte has ordered the Department of Health to investigate nine hospitals for allegedly refusing to admit patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duterte made order following reports that a critically-ill patient died after being turned away by as many as six hospitals in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija.
In a public address last Thursday, Duterte said he ordered the DoH to start the investigation as soon as possible.
“Nine hospitals refused to accept patients. And therefore, we are calling – not after the COVID crisis – but I’ll be asking today the Department of Health to start the investigation,” he said. “I’m sorry but, you know, there are rules to be followed. When you begin to fuck the rules, ‘yan ang… Ganun talaga magkakaproblema tayo,” he added.
Duterte said hospitals should not choose which patients to admit and urged them to find a way to take care of the sick.
“Ospital kayo, you are the sanctuary of the sick. You do not choose the ailment of the patient you are accepting. It is not just – simply not within your power morally,” he said. “Maghanap kayo ng paraan kung how to deal with the problem because you are a hospital. You might want to – to start asking questions, build a tent there somewhere, doon muna ilagay, then you can determine,” he added.
“I’m sure it will not be unreasonable. You are also trying to protect everybody in the hospital, including the sick patients.”
The President said he will just close down hospitals if they fail to function as such.
“So kung hindi mo kayang maging hospital, sasarahan na lang kita. Why pretend to be a hospital when you are not a hospital?” Duterte said. “You cannot choose the patients that you have to attend to medically. I hope I have made myself very clear on this,” he added.
Duterte, meanwhile, said the doctors in the nine hospitals will also be investigated. “Also for the doctors who take note of what happened to the patient because questions will be asked later and you will be in a position to answer correctly,” he said.
The Chief Executive had earlier threatened to relieve the entire personnel of government hospitals that will be found to be responsible for turning away patients.
Republic Act No. 8344 said it is unlawful for any hospital to refuse to administer medical treatment in emergencies or serious cases. The law only allows hospitals to refer patients to other medical facilities if they have inadequate capabilities to treat the ill.
RA 10932 or the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law imposed a higher penalty for medical practitioners or facilities who refuse to administer medical treatment in emergencies or serious cases.
