KM Viray
Outaged netizen Ferdz Dugay made a post about his mother’s treatment by the staff of Sta. Cruz Hospital in Calumpit, Bulacan. Dugay took his mother to the hospital for medical assistance when she slipped and hit her head on the sharp edge of one of their doors in their home. The open wound bled profusely, spurring Dugay to go to the emergency room of Sta. Cruz Hospital which was nearest to their place.
In the ER, while Dugay’s mother began having her wound cleaned, a nurse came up to them to inform them his mother would be needing about 12 stitches on her head. Dugay agreed for the sake of making her better. The nurse, however, said Dugay must first make a downpayment of P5,000 before they could begin the procedure. When Dugay reacted as to why his mother could not receive the treatment first, the nurse responded, “Sir, rules po kasi ng ospital yun eh. nandyan lang naman po yung doctor na magtatahi gigisingin lang po namin. in case pong sobra ibabalik nlang po namin yung sukli basta po need nyo na po bayaran sa cashier sa may pharmacy. [This is the hospital rule, sir. The doctor is just nearby, we just have to wake him up. In case you overpay, we will return your change. You just first need to pay at the cashier by the pharmacy. ]”
The nurse insisted on settling the payment first before beginning the treatment, which made Dugay furious. He questioned why was the doctor on duty asleep as he was in the ER and when was it a policy to pay first before attending to patients in need of immediate care. In his stress and anxiety over his mother’s injury, Dugay lost his temper and said, “Sigurado kang yan ang rules nyo! siguraduhin mo miss na tama sinasabi mo dahil alam kong mali yang patakaran ng ospital nyo kung totoo nga yan! kaya pala Sta. Pera tawag sa inyo kasi inuuna nyo ang pera at kumita hindi ang tumulong at manggamot! [You better make sure that really is in your rules and make sure you know what you’re saying because I know this is wrong. No wonder people call your hospital Sta. Pera, you insist on paying first before helping and treating (the sick).]”
Dugay was outraged with the nurse’s lack of compassion and her apparent disregard for her oath to save lives. Even though he knew the hospital was a private one, he was still dismayed by their policies. Dugay felt for those who may have had the same experiences as he did. He asked for the hospital management and staff to treat their patients properly and give them the best care they could, in spite of their patients’ status in life. After all, what are hospitals for if not to save lives?
Sta. Cruz Hospital has yet to release a statement.
UPDATE
An admin from Sta. Cruz Hospital posted on Facebook a response to Dugay’s claims. An Ivie Josue Martinez said the hospital does not ask for payment in order to treat their patients. Martinez said, in fact, that Len Gregorio, who was on duty at the time, said to Dugay that he would not have to pay for anything until after treatment. This was is accordance to the hospital’s policy of “Treatment first before payment.”
They also said Dugay’s father had also been admitted previously and they were not asked for payment prior to medical assistance.
The hispital administration has already extended an invitation to Dugay to clarify and out the issue to rest.
Before you judge the nurse ask first the policy of the hospital…nurses in the private sector are being paid less…
Economic enterprise po yung system..kung walang income walang sweldo ang nurses..baka po no downpayment no treatment ang policy at ang nurse follow lang ng instructions…say for example natuloy yung treatment walang pambayad ang pasyente ikakaltas sa sweldo ng nurse..nangyari po samin yan…mag popromissory yung pasyente tapos d na magbabayad…so dont blame it sa nurse sa policy po ng hospital nyo isisi..you just don’t know what it takes to be a nurse dito sa pilipinas..we are being overwoked but paid less..sisigawan kpa at mumurahin ng pasyente