MANILA — The government may move toward stricter regulation and possible legal action against private hospitals accused of imposing excessive charges, as Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla raised alarm over what he described as “bloated” emergency room fees that burden already vulnerable patients.
Speaking on his radio program over the weekend, Remulla said the high cost of emergency services reflects a systemic issue that requires stronger oversight and immediate government intervention.
“‘Yung mga ER expresses, laging bloated ‘yan. Kasi ang ER, minsan ang taas magbigay ng rates eh… sobrang mahal ng ER expresses. Kapag na-ER ka para kang nagulpi ulit,” he said.
He stressed that tighter monitoring of private healthcare institutions is necessary to ensure fair pricing and to protect patients from unreasonable charges, particularly in urgent medical situations.
“Dapat ang private hospitals, mabantayan nang husto ng government ‘yan,” Remulla said.
The Ombudsman also underscored weaknesses in the country’s legal framework, pointing out the lack of sufficient judicial precedents to address malpractice and questionable practices in the medical field.
“Kulang tayo sa judicial precedents sa malpractice tsaka wrongful behavior ng medical field,” he said.
Sen. JV Ejercito, who joined the discussion, backed the call for intervention and urged the Department of Science and Technology’s Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to review pricing practices among private hospitals.
“‘Yung PhilHealth, nandiyan dapat para sagutin. Kaya lang marami rin ang nagsasamantala na mga private hospitals na itaas ‘yung rates. ‘Yung HTAC… dapat tingnan din ito,” Ejercito said.
Remulla further cited discrepancies in billing for common illnesses such as pneumonia, where hospital charges often exceed what is covered under PhilHealth case rates.
“Example lang, case rate ng pneumonia. Pero kapag tiningnan mo ‘yung billing… matindi. Ang case rate dapat ‘yan PhilHealth na sasagot, pero ‘yung ibang fees na associated sa pneumonia, sobrang taas,” he said.
As of posting, concerned agencies and private hospital groups have yet to issue a response to the remarks./PN
