Cebu Doc operating sans business permit?

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from operating without a clearance from the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital also failed to secure business permit for a few years.

Cebu City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the hospital has been operating without permit. It is, however, regularly paying taxes for its pharmacy, canteen, and other operations.

Cuevas said the CDUH refused to pay taxes for hospital operations claiming it is exempted for being a non-stock, non-profit institution. She could not, however, give the exact number of years that the hospital has been operating without business permit.

“Gi-hold pa nila ilang payment. Niana sila nga non-stock, non-profit daw sila. Pero para namo they are proprietary,” Cuevas said.

She said that CDUH is proprietary in status because the hospital is earning.

Based on the hospital’s registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the institution is non-stock, non-profit.

According to Cuevas, the city government and the CDUH management are still trying to settle the matter.

“Naa nay move nga mag-meet halfway lang ang CDUH ug ang city government. Pending pa ni karon until nga magkasabot na,” she said.

The Freeman tried to contact CDUH administrator Oscar Tuazon but he refused to comment, only saying that the hospital’s legal counsel has the authority to speak on the matter.

The BFP also found CDUH to be operating without fire clearance which is a requirement for accreditation from the Department of Health and issuance of business permit from the local government.

City fire marshal Rogelio Bongabong Jr. said they found it out after the hospital caught fire Tuesday evening.

“Ang Cebu Doc, wala naisyuhan og clearance kay wala gi-comply ang sprinkler ug automatic suppression system, exhaust fan. Requirements na sa renewal sa business permit, dili sad mahatagan og accreditation sa Department of Health, karon (tuiga) wala ko mohatag og clearance kay wala maka-comply,” Bongabong said earlier.

 Bongabong said he will endorse the issue to higher authorities and assured that the hospital would comply with the requirements before issuing a clearance.

Tuazon, however, claimed that hospital has fire certificate but he still have to confirm the installation of the necessary systems with their electrical engineer.

“Inuna pa namin ang installation ng exit ramp, which is ongoing as of now. The proposal for the sprinkler system will then follow. We gave them (BFP) a timetable when we would install the sprinkler system. It will take time,” he said.

The hospital’s linen department caught fire Tuesday night forcing the hospital management to temporarily cease operation.

CDUH, in a press statement, assured that “all our patients have been accounted for and we are currently assessing the situation while making the necessary repairs to restore the hospital operations as soon as possible.”

“The doctors’ offices at the Medical Arts Building 2 will continue to be open for patient consultation. The Out-Patient Pharmacy, Laboratory, X-ray, Ultrasound and Minor OR services are available to serve the public,” it added.  (FREEMAN)