VSMMC Defers Admitting Patients Sans P2-M Deposit

(PNA) — The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), the biggest government-run hospital in Cebu, has deferred admitting patients from Cebu City until the city government pays a deposit of P2 million.

Patients from Cebu City who are beneficiaries of the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (Champ) were referred to the VSMMC after the Department of Health (DOH) downgraded the status of the Cebu City Medical Center from Level 2 to a Level 1 hospital.

As a Level 1 hospital, the CCMC is barred from performing major surgeries.

The required P2 million deposit is on top of the P3 million payables of the city government to VSMMC.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the P2 million serves as a deposit fund for patients under Champ.

“That’s the agreement to deposit initial payment for Champ fund from where the VSMMC deducts every admission of a patient,” he said.

Champ head Henry Sanchez said they are now processing the voucher for an initial deposit of P500,000.

He said the P2 million will be deposited in tranches.

VSMMC discontinued accepting Champ beneficiaries since 2010 because of the city government’s outstanding payable amounting to P3 million.

The amount was not paid due to VSMMC’s alleged failure to attach in the billing statement the documents required by the Commission on Audit such as name of the patients, medical abstract, diagnosis, among others.

VSMMC management, after meeting with the city officials, agreed to take back Champ beneficiaries because of the city hospital’s present situation.

Under Champ guidelines, the city government will shoulder a maximum of P25,000 for each beneficiary.

The city has appropriated P100 million for Champ, which includes laboratory, medicine, hospitalization and burial. (PNA) LAP/EB