MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) said it is ready to fully cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in their investigation into alleged inflated hospital charges.

In a report, DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Albert Domingo said that the alleged inflation or overpricing of hospital fees may constitute criminal acts, including falsification of public documents under the Revised Penal Code.

“Ang pananaw namin dyan, hindi kasi lahat ng hospital honest… Maraming honest, mas maraming honest pero meron talagang mga pasaway,” he said.

“Kami, natutuwa kami na onboard ng Ombudsman, at malamang sa malamang kung yan nag-red flag na sa Ombudsman, baka ang DOJ makiging interesado rin. We will cooperate fully,” he added.

Domingo said the department is prepared to pursue accountability using all available legal remedies.

“‘Pag nalaman natin [kung sino ang mga may sala], we will use the full extent of the law that is available to us para ma-prosecute and under due process, makulong ang kailangan makulong,” he said.

The statement comes after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier raised concerns over “bloated” emergency room charges in some hospitals.

Remulla also said private hospitals should be placed under closer government monitoring, noting possible abuses in billing practices and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) claims.

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

“Kulang tayo sa judicial precedents sa malpractice at saka wrongful behavior ng medical field,” he added.

Senator JV Ejercito has also raised similar concerns, pointing to alleged misuse of PhilHealth coverage and hospital billing practices.