MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, (PIA) — The provincial hospital, now in its new, interior, but spacious location at barangay Dongon this city, will function much like a business establishment.
And this will be set into motion starting this year, said Jesse Quilantang, Provincial Administrator, in an interview at his office Monday.
“The hospital will function much like a business entity since its expenditures is financed from the income that is generated from the health care services being provided to patients,” Quilantang remarked.
He added: “Charity patients are those being treated by government doctors and are staying at wards. Paying Patients are those who prefer to be treated by private doctors and stay at private rooms. With Philhealth Point Of Care Program, all patients may be enlisted with Philhealth and they benefit the refund from Philhealth for the cost of hospitalization.”
For charity patients the excess of hospitalization cost after deducting the Philhealth benefits will be subsidized by the provincial government through its Fund For The Indigents, Quilantang said.
He said this year, 2015, the province budgeted P 175 Million as Fund For The Indigents, the amount equivalent to the annual budget of the provincial hospital then.
Rooms for charity patients should not be put down, as these will be provided with decent amenities much like private rooms, such as air-conditioning system for the comfort of everyone, patients and tanods alike, Quilantang disclosed, quoting the instruction of Gov. Roger Mercado.
“The main feature of the operation of the hospital as an enterprise is the assurance that charity patients will be discharged from the hospital without paying a single centavo for the hospitalization costs, since Philhealth and the Provincial Fund For The Indigent take care of this, as long as the patient will cooperate in providing the necessary papers in supporting his charity status as patient.
“The special power of attorney (SPA) will be issued by the patient through a ready form provided during admission to SLEMCOOP PHARMACY. Through this SPA, the SLEMCOOP PHARMACY will be able to collect the reimbursement of the cost of medicine prescribed to the patient,” Quilantang explained.
Last month, transfer of equipment and services from the old to the new health facility began in earnest. This month, the technical personnel are expected to hold office at the new location, it was learned. (ajc/mmp/PIA8-Southern Leyte)
