Boy dies after parents couldn't pay bills

CEBU, Philippines - A two-year-old boy, who was supposed to be referred to a hospital in Cebu City, died of pneumonia Monday afternoon after the Tuburan District Hospital allegedly refused to release him since his parents could not pay their bill.

The boy was identified as Nelmart Balucos, only son of couple Arnel and Rosemarie Balucos of Barangay Mag-alwa, Tuburan town. He was also the nephew of Mag-alwa Barangay Captain Cresencio Bayo.

Bayo said they took the boy to the hospital, about 8 a.m. Monday, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia by Dr. Rosendo Estoye. Estoye even recommended to immediately transfer the boy to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Bayo claimed that they hurriedly processed their documents to release the boy and called the ambulance on standby but hospital billing station cashier Tessie Bucag allegedly delayed the process.

Bucag, a midwife of the hospital and also in charge of the billing section, allegedly refused to process the documents for the failure of the payment of the P990 hospital bill.

Since the boy’s parents could not afford it at the time, Bayo offered P500 cash and pleaded to sign a promissory note for the P490 balance.

Bayo pleaded for hours but still Bucag allegedly refused.The boy died in the hospital at 4 p.m. and his remains were only released 7 p.m.

In an interview over radio station dyDD, Bucag said that she was only tasked to compute the hospital bill and did not have a hand in the releasing of any patient.

Dr. Steve Legaray, chief of doctors of the hospital, said he was not immediately informed of the incident but he assured to conduct an investigation into the matter.

As of yesterday, Dr. Cristina Giango, head of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, said that they have not yet received any report or investigation from the Tuburan District Hospital.

Giango said she just knew of the report since she was in Borbon for a medical mission.

Dr. Susana Madarieta, regional director of the Department of Health-7, said that the district hospital committed lapses since a patient should be immediately transferred to another hospital even if he cannot fully pay his bills.

Madarieta said that they will be waiting for the investigation report of the provincial health office before deciding their next move.

Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante was not available for comment yesterday. —/BRP (FREEMAN)