Mga Dapat Alamin sa Enhanced Anti-Hospital Deposit Law o RA 10932

RA 10932, otherwise known as the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law provides that “in emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as prerequisite for administering basic emergency care, for confinement or medical treatment, or to refuse to administer medical treatment and support to any patient.”

Read Also: DOH to Hospitals: Provide Emergency Services Even Without Down Payment

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa RA 10932

1. Bawal manghingi ng deposito ang mga hospital o clinic bago magbigay ng basic emergency services sa pasyente;
2. Kung walang ambulansya ang hospital maaring gamitin ang emergency vehicle ng BFP at LGU;
3. Ikinokonsiderang emergency case ang panganganak at miscarriage;
4. Dapat na ipaskil ang mga serbisyong kanilang ibinibigay sa entrance ng mga hospital at clinic;
5. Presumption of liability o ang mga hospital o clinic ay dapat managot kung sakaling mamatay o magdulot ng seryosong pinsala sa pasyente ang hindi pag-admit nito sa kanilang hospital o clinic; at
6. Mas mataas na parusa para sa lalabag ng batas na ito

Ang RA 10932 ay nag-aamyenda sa Batas Pambansa Bilang 702, at lalo pang pinalakas ang provision ng emergency health care sa mga pasyente. Saklaw ng batas ang LAHAT NG OSPITAL – pampubliko man o pribado.

Information from PCOO about RA 10932

Note: The following information was stated from the article of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

• President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, August 3, signed into law, increasing the penalties for the refusal of hospitals and clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment in emergency or serious cases.
• Under this new law, any official, medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or medical clinic who violates the provisions of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one (1) day but not more than two (2) years and four (4) months, or a fine of not less than P100,000.00 but not more than P300,000.00 or both.
• Higher penalties of imprisonment of four (4) to six (6) years, or a fine of not less than P500,000.00 but not more than one million pesos, or both, are imposed upon directors or officers of hospitals or clinics responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies or instructions violative of this Act.
• Three (3) repeated violations, added RA 10932, shall result in the revocation of the health facility’s license to operate by the Department of Health (DOH).
• A presumption of liability shall arise against the hospital, medical clinic, and the official, medical practitioner, or employee involved in the event of death, permanent disability, serious impairment of the health condition of the patient-complainant or in the case of a pregnant woman, permanent injury or loss of her unborn child as a result of the denial of his or her admission to the health facility, according to RA 10932.
• “The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall reimburse the hospital or clinic for the cost of basic emergency care and transportation services given to poor and indigent patients,” RA 10932 stated.
• The law further stated that “the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) shall also provide medical assistance for the basic emergency care needs of poor and marginalized groups.”

Source: PDF File of RA 10932 [Official Gazette]