By John Clifford Lintao
THE Department of Health warned hospitals against charging its patients for personal protective equipment (PPE) which were donated to them amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire did not make any categorical statement confirming such practice, but hinted at their capability to monitor and determine instances where donated PPEs are being sold to the hospital patients or their visiting families.
“Yes, they are allowed to charge [for PPEs] under the Department Order 2020 0269, but charging for PPEs which are donated to them is strictly prohibited,” Vergeire said.
“We have inventory of these [donated PPEs] para ma-monitor natin kung may overpricing,” the Department of Health official added.
Likewise, Vergeire said hospitals can only charge patients a portion of the administrative cost of the hospital’s purchase of the PPEs.
The administrative cost is broken down to: the accommodation that the hospital provides for the COVID-19 patients and the number of health workers needed to take care of the patients, she explained.
“The allowable amount [to be charged] is 30 percent of the total administrative cost,” Vergeire said.
“Kung nasa intensive care unit ang pasyente, critical care iyon kaya mas maraming magagamit na PPE [ang mga health care workers]. Kung nasa ward [na may ibang pasyente], ‘pag nag-rounds ang doktor, isahan lang iyon, kaya mas kaunti ang paggamit ng PPE roon,” she added.