DOH INKS MOA WITH PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO TREAT LEPTOSPIROSIS CASE

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) today signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with 5 PhilHealth-accredited private medical facilities where the government can refer leptospirosis patients that state hospitals can no longer accommodate. The DOH, through the MOA, will subsidize the financial requirements of patients that it will refer to these hospitals.

“The sudden upsurge of leptospirosis cases after the massive flooding caused by tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng brought us to a situation where we need to get into special arrangements with medical facilities from the private sector to help the government treat patients, especially the non-PhilHealth member indigents. So, with this subsidy package for leptospirosis we aim to cover all those who needed medical attention but cannot afford to due to financial constraints,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

The five private-owned medical facilities that signed the MOA today are: Capitol Medical Center, MCU-F.D. Tanchoco Medical Foundation Hospital, Manila Doctors Hospital, Los Baños Doctors Hospital, and The Medical City.

The other hospitals that have also expressed support are: St. Luke’s Medical Center, Delos Santos-STI Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Fe Del Mundo Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Dr. Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital, Chinese General Hospital, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

The health chief said that under the DOH subsidy package, patients with an uncomplicated case is entitled to P5,000, while the one with complicated one will get P20,000.

“But patients cannot just go to these private hospitals and avail of this treatment package because only those that will be referred by DOH hospitals due to congestion will be accommodated by our pre-identified referral private facilities,” Duque explained.

Under this MOA, the DOH and its hospitals shall make appropriate referral of patients to the participating hospitals for medical treatment. It shall also pay for every referred indigent patient based on the agreed package.

On the other hand, the participating hospitals must be equipped with hemo and peritoneal dialysis, intensive care units and ventilator capabilities. They should also set up a special ward and allot additional beds in anticipation of referrals, among other obligations.