Erap warns city hospitals vs charging for free services

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada vowed on Wednesday to dismiss and file charges against officials and employees of six city-owned hospitals who will demand payment from patients who hold “orange cards.”

He insisted that the medical services in city-owned hospitals are for free for orange card holders.

He issued the warning after learning that some personnel and officials of the six city-owned hospitals are “sabotaging” his free medical services program.

“Let me assure you that any hospital director, official or employee who cause any orange card holder to pay a single centavo for hospital services or tests will not only be dismissed from the service but will also be made criminally liable,” Estrada said.

“They will not only be removed from the service, I will also have them jailed,” Estrada added.

Estrada said he has removed a hospital director for demanding payment from a patient with an orange card.

Dr. Regina Bagsic, overall coordinator of all six hospitals, and city social welfare department officer-in-charge Dr. Honey Lacuna-Pangan said more than 700,000 orange card holders and their dependents are entitled to free health care services in the city’s hospitals and health centers.

Estrada said the orange card holders are also entitled to free treatment at the Manila Dialysis Center, the biggest dialysis facility in the country.