SP enacts Enhanced No Deposit Law of 2018

IN line with the No Deposit Law, the 18th City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy enacted an ordinance imposing additional administrative penalties on hospitals or medical clinics whose official, medical practitioner or employee refuses to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency cases in violation of RA No. 8344.

RA 8344, which amends Batas Pambansa Bilang 702, penalizes the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency or serious cases.

The Enhanced No Deposit Ordinance of 2018 provides that any official, medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or medical clinic in Cagayan de Oro City who violates the provisions of RA 8344 shall be penalized with a fine of P5,000 plus stern warning for the first offense, P5,000 plus suspension of business permit for five days for the second offense, and P5,000 plus 10-day suspension of the business permit for the third offense.

Councilor Maria Lourdes Gaane, chair of the City Council committee on health and author of the ordinance, reiterated that hospitals are the city’s partners in health. She said the city does not want to be hostile to hospitals by imposing heavy fines.

“We want to work with them and influence their behavior and invoke their corporate social responsibility,” she cited.

“With the national law and MOA with PhilHealth implementing a no-deposit-agreement among hospitals in the city for elective cases, this ordinance is the missing link to really provide Kagay-anons real financial risk protection,” Gaane stressed.

The legislation was endorsed by the committees on health and on laws and rules chaired by Councilors Gaane and Ian Mark Nacaya, respectively. (JBD)