DOH To Penalize 77 Hospitals For Illegally Detaining Patients Due To Unpaid Bills

The Department of Health (DOH) is going to investigate and penalized if proven guilty into 77 hospitals that are facing complaints about illegally detaining patients due to “unsettled” hospital bills.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III assured that patients who experienced illegal detention by the hospitals will be given justice.

He also added that the cases are expected to be resolved by March 2020.


The health secretary said that Republic Act No. 9439 or Anti-Hospital Detention Law, prohibits the detention of a patient, either well or dead, who either failed to pay in advance or entirely pay his medical bills and expenses.

He also reminded hospitals that they cannot choose patients and there is no guarantee that all patients have the capability to pay their hospital bills.

“The accused, most of them are private hospitals who refused their patients to leave because they cannot settle their bill,” Secretary Duque said.

The 77 pending complaints are currently being reviewed by the DOH’s Health Facilities Oversight Board (HFOB).

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Meanwhile, in August 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law, increasing the penalties for the refusal of hospitals and clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment in an emergency or serious cases.

Republic Act No. 10932, otherwise known as the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law provides that “in emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as prerequisite for administering basic emergency care, for confinement or medical treatment, or to refuse to administer medical treatment and support to any patient.

Source: DOH