Free lab tests for poor PGH patients not suspended

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has assured the public that free laboratory services for indigent patients have not been suspended.

PGH coordinator for public affairs Felix Lukban said the assignment of rates for each laboratory test is only meant to monitor the expenses incurred by the hospital for charity patients.

“As taxpayers, you would want to know how much is being spent (for charity patients)… We just put a number on those examinations,” he told The STAR.

“Why are they questioning this? All we want to have is accountability of our budget… This is just a safety net against corruption,” he added.

The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said Memorandum 2013-120 the PGH issued last Friday has effectively suspended free laboratory services to indigent patients.

AHW president Jossel Ebesate said the memorandum provides that poor patients who want to avail of free laboratory tests will have to seek approval from the department heads at PGH.

Members of AHW and the University of the Philippines (UP)-PGH worker’s union staged a rally yesterday to demand the revocation of the memorandum.

Ebesate said the UP Board of Regents, which is running PGH, should also stop the implementation of the memorandum for being arbitrary.

“What we agreed upon is that there will just be corresponding rates for the laboratory tests so that the PGH can quantify how much is being spent for charity patients. But they should not be charged. The services should remain free without condition,” he said.

New rates

The memorandum contains new rates for laboratory tests.

On blood chemistry, P25 shall be charged for creatinine tests, P30 for lipid-triglycerides, P30 for uric acid and P30 for total protein.

For automated urinalysis the rate is P150, P145 for hemoglobin, P30 for fecalysis and P120 for pregnancy test.

At least P1,035 shall be charged for chromogranin, cytokeratin desmin, CD99, PLAP, P63 and GFAP tests, among others.

Lukban said the fees are automatically waived in case of emergencies while subsequent examinations may be waived upon the recommendation of department heads and submission of some requirements by the patient.

The clinical abstract with a therapeutic plan and approximate cost of treatment and a personal letter of the patient or family to the congressman of his or her place of residence requesting for financial assistance are the requirements mentioned in the memorandum.