Private hospitals mull 5% fee hike

MANILA, Philippines — Citing the rising costs of fuel and other basic commodities, including medical supplies, a group of private hospitals is looking at implementing a five-percent increase in hospital fees.

“Some hospitals are thinking of raising the cost by at least five percent to cover the increase in fuel prices, prices of goods, medicines, supplies, transportation and utilities,” said Jose Rene de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI).

“Hospitals cannot operate without standby generator sets,” he stressed.

Some hospitals have shifted to renewable energy to augment power utility, but it is a bit expensive, De Grano said.
Implementation of the fee hike by most PHAPI member hospitals is inevitable, he said.

“Hopefully, the increase will not be that substantial. It will depend on how the hospitals can be resilient and can sustain their present situation without increasing their rates,” De Grano said.