Suspended Butuan hospital remains open for business

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – A suspension order issued by the Department of Health (DOH) has not stopped a private hospital here from operating.

As of Saturday, the Butuan Doctors Hospital (BDH) continued accepting patients.

BDH security guards said the management had not advised them about the suspension, which stemmed from the hospital’s alleged violation of Republic Act 8344.

The law prohibits hospitals from requiring patients to pay a deposit, particularly during emergency cases.

In December, BDH was accused of refusing to treat a baby girl whose mother failed to pay a deposit.

Glenn Tiangha, DOH-Caraga regulatory officer, on Thursday said his office and the BDH have not yet received the order.

But on Friday, DOH-Caraga regional director Minerva Molon said it was Tiangha who emailed her the DOH order.

On the same day, Tiangha, in a text message to The STAR, said BDH officials went to Manila to appeal the suspension order.

The order suspending BDH’s operation was issued on March 9 by DOH assistant secretary Nicholas Luterio.

The STAR tried to get BDH’s comment on the issue, but no one among its officials was available.