Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie Gatchalian ordered an investigation into Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center upon receiving serious complaints that some of the relatives of patients, who died under its care, were held against their will after failing to fully settle their medical bills.
Authorities described the policy as ‘palit ulo’ (exchange heads) in which people, who watch over the patients, were forced to find someone to replace them in the hospital before they were allowed to leave its premises.
This practice is tantamount to illegal detention, which is a violation under the Revised Penal Code. Two complainants filed separate cases of serious illegal detention and slight illegal detention against ACE Medical Center employees in February.
Richel Mae Alvaro, 26, said her husband was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, which is located in Barangay Malanday. He died of complications last February 14. They incurred a total of P518,519.37 in hospital bills.
Alvaro said she sought permission from ACE Medical Center officers to go outside, so she could raise the necessary funds, but she was prevented from leaving even just to buy food. She also said she was monitored by security guards at the ICU area, where she stayed for almost three days.
In a separate incident, 28-year-old Lovery Magtangob said the wife of her brother died of Thyroid storm complications in the same hospital. With a total bill of PhP777,378.00, the siblings were unable to pay immediately. Magtangob was also instructed not to leave until her brother settles their account.
The complainants said ACE Medical Center also refused to release the death certificates of their deceased loved ones. The hospital merely issued them probational death certificates, and were informed that one of the family members should stay at the hospital while the bill was being settled.
The foregoing incidents prompted Alvaro and Magtangob to seek the help of Mayor Gatchalian for the release of the death certificates of their deceased relatives, as well as assistance on the filing of appropriate complaints against the responsible officers and employees of the hospital.
“Ang bigat sa loob ko na marinig ito dahil, unang-una, namatayan ka na, nagluluksa ka… Pangalawa, naghahagilap ka pa ng pera. Alam naman po natin ‘yang mga private hospital na ‘yan ang mahal po ng charges… Hindi naman po libre ito pero ganyan pa ang customer service na ibibigay nila sa ating mga kababayan,” Gatchalian said in a radio interview.
(I feel bad to hear this because, first of all, you already lost a loved one, you are grieving… Secondly, you are struggling for money. We all know that these private hospitals charge exorbitantly… This is not for free and yet that is the kind of customer service they are giving to our countrymen.)
The ACE Medical Center has submitted its counter-affidavit denying the complaints.
