Don't follow Baypointe's footsteps : Gordon to hospitals

Senator Richard J. Gordon warned both public and private hospitals against committing unjust practices or they could also be sanctioned like the ACE Medical Center - Baypointe in the Subic Freeport which he lodged a complaint against before the Department of Health.

Gordon said the DOH has revoked its permit to operate blood service facilities and ordered the downgrading of the said hospital from being a second level medical facility to mere infirmary since second level hospitals are required to maintain a blood service facility to maintain its current level.

"Baypointe was found to be liable for violating various administrative orders pertaining to the dispensation of blood, hence it's license to operate a blood service facility was revoked prompting its downgrading. As a consequence, the hospital could not accept new admissions to it intensive care unit, neonatal intensive area unit and its high-risk pregnancy unit once the downgrading is implemented.

Current patients at the ICU, NICU, HRPU of the hospital will be continuously managed and treated at their respective areas for humanitarian consideration.

Gordon wrote a letter to the DOH after getting a complaint that the hospital billed an ICU patient almost P200,000 for blood and blood services alone. Not only did it charge exorbitant fees for blood, it also required blood coming from the Philippine Red Cross to be re-tested.

The Blood Manual of Baypointe states that all blood products from another facility shall be tested. In their letter of explanation, they admitted that they have been conducting retesting of blood products coming from another blood service facility. The DOH said this is a clear violation of the department's existing rules and regulations on prohibition on re-testing of blood products obtained from a licensed blood center.

"This should serve as a warning to all hospitals - both public and private. Stop committing unjust practices, such as charging exorbitant fees for blood, requiring re-testing of blood coming from the PRC, among others. Don't add any more burden to your patients. Adhere to your Hippocratic Oath or you could be severely sanctioned," Gordon warned.