Estrada wants tougher hospital arrest law

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has filed a bill giving more teeth to the “antihospital arrest” law, raising the penalties against employees and officers of medical institutions who “detain” patients—dead or alive—due to unpaid medical bills.

From the current P20,000 to P50,000 fine, Senate Bill No. 2724 proposed a P200,000 fine or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, for hospital officers or employees who fail to comply with the law. Directors or managers of medical facilities, on the other hand, may face a six-year jail term and a maximum fine of P2 million for implementing policies of hospital detention.

“Despite the existence of the law for 17 years now, the same illegal practice persists and continues to plague our health care system,” Estrada said, adding that his office has received numerous complaints from the families of victims. He noted that while the collection of payments was a legitimate concern on the part of the hospital management, “hospital arrest” worsens the problem because the patients’ extended stay makes their bills bigger. —TINA G. SANTOS