MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has called for stronger government oversight and clearer judicial precedents to address what he described as high and “bloated” charges in some private hospitals, particularly in emergency room services.

In his radio program, Remulla criticized the cost of emergency care, saying patients often face unexpectedly high bills.

“‘Yung mga ER expenses, laging bloated ‘yan. Kasi ang ER, minsan ang taas magbigay ng rates eh… sobrang mahal ng ER expenses. Kapag na-ER ka para kang nagulpi ulit,” he said.

(ER expenses are often bloated. Hospitals sometimes charge very high rates… ER services are very expensive. When you end up in the ER, it’s like you’ve been beaten again.)

Senator JV Ejercito, who also joined the program, said the Department of Science and Technology’s Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) should review pricing practices in private hospitals.

“‘Yung PhilHealth, nandiyan dapat para sagutin. Kaya lang marami rin ang nagsasamantala na mga private hospitals na itaas ‘yung rates. ‘Yung HTAC… dapat tingnan din ito,” Ejercito said.

(PhilHealth should be there to cover the public’s expenses. However, some private hospitals are taking advantage by raising their rates. The HTAC… should also look into this.)

Remulla said private hospitals should be placed under closer government monitoring to prevent excessive charges.

“Dapat ang private hospitals, mabantayan nang husto ng government ‘yan,” he said.

He also pointed to the need for stronger court rulings on medical malpractice and improper practices in the healthcare sector.

“Kulang tayo sa judicial precedents sa malpractice tsaka wrongful behavior ng medical field,” Remulla added.

(We lack judicial precedents for malpractice and wrongful behavior in the medical field.)

As an example, Remulla cited billing practices for pneumonia cases, noting that overall hospital charges can significantly exceed standard coverage.

“Example lang, case rate ng pneumonia. Pero kapag tiningnan mo ‘yung billing… matindi. Ang case rate dapat ‘yan PhilHealth na sasagot, pero ‘yung ibang fees na associated sa pneumonia, sobrang taas,” he said.

(For example, the case rate for pneumonia. But when you look at the patient’s billing, it’s very high. PhilHealth should cover the case rate, but other associated fees are excessive.)