Hospital denies asking P10T deposit from wounded cop

CEBU, Philippines — The management of Chong Hua Hospital has denied demanding P10,000 deposit as a condition to perform medical procedures on a wounded policeman.

Doctor Helen Po, medical director and chief operating officer, said the hospital management regrets that the family of Police Officer 3 David Naraja misinterpreted the partial billing amount quoted by the hospital staff as demand for deposit. 

 Po explained that the amount quoted by the admitting staff was for the room accommodation and the bill already incurred at the emergency room.

“It is not the practice of Chong Hua Hospital to demand or ask any deposit prior to attending to any patient that arrives in the ER,” Po said in her letter addressed to Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino.

She said Naraja could personally confirm that he was attended to by the emergency room personnel from the moment he came in.

Espino complained against the hospital management for alleged violation of the Republic Act 10932 or the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.

Espino said he will refer the reply of Chong Hua to the legal service of the Philippine National Police to determine whether or not to pursue the filing of charges.

 Espino complained that Naraja was not immediately given a CT scan and other necessary medical procedures because they have not paid the P10, 000 deposit allegedly demanded from them.

 Naraja was wounded in a shootout against murder suspect Jessie Largo in Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City. Largo was killed during the operation. (FREEMAN)