Press Release
November 24, 2007

Pia lauds scrapping of hospital holiday threat

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today welcomed reports that the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) has finally decided to shelve its threat to hold hospital holiday protests.

The breakthrough came after the Department of Health (DOH) committed to increase the government's financial support to indigent patients with unpaid medical bills through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and provide ambulances to some 250 private hospitals nationwide, particularly in the provinces.

"I am pleased that the dialogue initiated by the DOH with PHAP has resulted in more funds being poured into health," said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

"I look forward to working with different sectors to lobby for a bigger budget for health and to ensure the delivery of quality health care to our people," added the senator, noting that the health sector budget will soon be taken up in the plenary debates on the proposed P1.23-trillion general appropriations bill for 2008.

"With the hospital holiday now out of the picture, I'm hoping for the immediate approval of the implementing rules of Republic Act 9439," which she sponsored and helped pass in the 13th Congress.

The senator is also hopeful that the new law will guide hospitals in formulating clear-cut policies in their admission, classification and discharging of patients, and improve coordination between PCSO, Philhealth and PHAP in assisting indigents facing unpaid medical expenses.

News Latest News Feed