Duterte amends Anti-Hospital Deposit Law

(Photo Courtesy by Manila Bulletin)

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the Republic Act No. 10932 or otherwise known as Anti-Hospital Deposit Law that will increase the penalties for the refusal of hospitals and clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment in emergency or serious cases on August 3.

According to Presidential Communications Operations Office, this law states 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.”

(Photo Courtesy by Google Images)

Any personnel or official of a hospital or medical clinic who will violate the law will face an imprisonment of not less than six months and one day but not more than two years and four months. There will also be a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P300,000.

If the violation was repeated three times, it shall result in the revocation of the health facility’s license to operate by the Department of Health (DOH). DOH and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).