A patient who recovered from a tough bout with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lamented that he felt like a prisoner after a private hospital did not allow him to be leave the hospital despite his recovery from the disease.
In Abby Espiritu’s “Stand For Truth” report, 36-year-old Rodeo Natividad was admitted to the private hospital last July 19, 2021 after suffering from severe pneumonia and COVID-19.
Natividad was admitted in a hospital, which provided him with all kinds of treatment and medication.
At one point, during his treatment, Natividad related that at the time he had difficulty in breathing he had flashbacks of his life.
“”Di ba may sinasabi na nagpa flashback na, makikita ko na yung moment na simula noong pinanganak siya, magkakasama kami, masasaya. Yung din ang naging ano ko na lumaban. Hindi pa puwede, bata pa ang mga anak ko,” he said.
After overcoming COVID-19, Natividad had to face another hurdle, which was paying his hospital bills that reached almost P1.1 million.
In the video, Natividad said he is already in good condition, without dextrose, but the hospital management would not allow him to leave if he will not pay at least half of the bill.
Natividad said he was only able to pay P200,000 out of the total amount he was billed.
In a separate interview, health reform advocate and former national task special adviser Dr. Tony Leachon said the minimum admission for patients must only be 14 days.
It also takes two weeks to one month for patients to get admitted due to the disease, added Leachon.
“Now for three weeks, bills reach P1.5 million and it is likely common to be that expensive. It also includes antibiotics and the number of days that the patient stayed in the hospital,” said Leachon, in mixed Filipino and English.
However, Leachon said it should not take too long to admit patients because a hospital bed is needed by another patient.
“The danger is that there could be hospital acquired infections so as much as possible, they should discharge the patient immediately,” he added.
On Sept. 27, Natividad said he was already discharged from the hospital and that the bill of P766, 354.50 has been reduced to P491, 349.
Natividad lamented that what he experienced was inhuman as he called for a review for hospital policies on admitting patients especially during the pandemic.
“This is not my choice at saka pandemic, di ko gugustuhin ang sitwasyon (I don’t like this situation). Imagine, two months hindi ko nakikita ang anak ko, two months wala akong trabaho (I did not see my kid for two months, I have no job for two months.),” he said.
Under Republic Act 9439 or the Act Prohibiting the Detention of Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics on Grounds of Nonpayment of Hospital Bills or Medical Expenses, it is unlawful for hospitals to detain patients who still have outstanding hospital fees. — Consuelo Marquez/BAP, GMA News
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