Hospital rapped for violating senior citizens' law

CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines   –The city hospital here has come under fire from senior citizens for allegedly collecting fees in violation of the Senior Citizens’ Law.

The Manuel V. Gallego Cabanatuan City General Hospital which is operated by the city government of Mayor Alvin Vergara was accused for allegedly charging fees for laboratory services which were otherwise provided free to senior citizens under RA 9257, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

One of the senior citizens, Ricardo Eraña told The STAR that hospital personnel collected from him payment for laboratory services when he went to the hospital on July 8. Eraña, a resident of Don Manuel Avenue, Kapitan Pepe Subdivision, said that when he went to the hospital for the laboratory examination, a midwife in the said hospital told him that services for laboratory examinations are indeed for free as provided for under the Senior Citizens’ Law.

However, a certain Danilo Bautista, medical technologist insisted that he should pay. He was correspondingly issued an official receipt numbered 8479094. He said that the benefits and privileges of card-bearing senior citizens under RA 9257 include free medical, dental, diagnostic and laboratory services in all government facilities. To drive home his point, Eraña showed The STAR his senior citizen identification card enumerating the benefits and privileges of senior citizens.

In the card which was signed by Vergara and Office of Senior Citizens Affairs Julie Rivera, each senior citizen is entitled – aside from free medical, dental, diagnostic and laboratory services to avail of 20 percent discount in purchase of medicines; 20 percent discount in hotels, restaurants, recreation centers, funeral parlors and similar establishments; 20 percent discount in theaters, cinema houses and concert halls; 20 percent discount on medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory facilities in private facilities; and 20 percent discount in fare for domestic, air, sea travel and public transportation.           – Manny Galvez