VM Bebot Rodriguez to health committee: Explore inclusion of doctors' fees in aid for indigent patients

Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez called on the committee on health, chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes Gaane, to explore the possibility of including doctors’ professional fees in the hospital billing of indigent patients, with potential coverage from the Department of Health (DOH) or the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

This came after Councilor Malvern Esparcia’s special report, which urged consideration of including professional fees in aid programs for indigent patients, most especially private hospitals.

Councilor Yvy Emano responded by pointing out that the DOH, through its Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), formerly known as the Medical Assistance for Indigency Program (MAIP), can shoulder these fees if doctors agree. However, she noted that not all doctors allow this arrangement.

For her part, Councilor Gaane explained that, unfortunately, professional fees are not currently chargeable to DOH or DSWD due to delays in government payments to doctors, compounded by the fact that doctors are required to pay withholding taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

VM Bebot emphasized the urgency of addressing this concern, noting that indigent patients often cannot be discharged due to unpaid professional fees.

“That is the ongoing problem until now, and hopefully it can be resolved and discussed at your level,” she added.

In a related concern, VM Bebot also urged the committee to review the policies of private hospitals, particularly regarding restrictions on obtaining medicines from hospital pharmacies.

She shared an experience involving a City Hall employee who sought assistance after being asked to purchase medicines outside the hospital despite having supply in the pharmacy.

“Karon lang ko nakadawat og reklamo ngano ang tambal naay deposit. Ngano paliton pa sa gawas, bisan sa tungang gabie, nga naa may tambal sa pharmacy,” she said.

Councilor George Goking also raised the issue of overpriced medicines in hospitals, despite the existence of a suggested retail price (SRP) regulation.

In response, Councilor Gaane assured the council that these matters would be tackled by her committee in the coming days, with the goal of finding solutions to improve healthcare access for indigent patients.