PERSONAL PROTECTIVE equipment (PPE) that were given as donations or provided by the government must not be charged to patients admitted in health facilities, a Department of Health official said Monday.
"Bayad na po ang mga ito at hindi dapat singilin ng opistal ang pasiyente sa paggamit ng mga ito. Nabayaran na po ito ng gobyerno or naibigay na ito through our donations so hindi po sila dapat naniningil (These have been paid for and hospitals shouldn't charge patients for their use. The government paid for them or if they were provided through our donations so they need not ask for payment)," DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the Beat Covid-19 virtual presser.
Vergeire made the clarification following reports about several private hospitals in Cebu allegedly charged patients for the PPE.
"Babayaran lamang po ng pasiyente ang PPE kung ang ospital mismo ang gumastos dito (Patients will only pay for the PPE if the hospital spent on them)," she said.
All PPE must be given to front-line healthcare workers upon their delivery or as soon as their inventory is completed, she added.
"Sila po ang dapat nating i-prioritize kaya tayo nagbibigay ng kaukulang PPE sa ating mga health facilities sa kadahilanang gusto natin maproteksyunan ang ating mga (We should prioritize them that's why we distribute appropriate PPE to our health facilities for the reason that we want to protect our) healthcare workers," Vergeire said.
On April 1, about 15,000 of the 1 million PPE sets the DOH procured for health workers have arrived. One set included an N95 mask, goggles, coveralls, head cover, shoe cover, surgical mask, gloves, and surgical gown.
Earlier, the DOH said the remaining PPE sets are expected to arrive between April 6 to 24.
The purchase of PHP1.8 billion worth of PPE sets underwent the procurement process of the Department of Budget and Management.(By Ma. Teresa Montemayor)
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