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Coop Hospital to pay
City Hall for damages
By:
KIT BAGAIPO
COOP HOSPITAL ISSUE. Dr. Jose Tiongco,
(r) CEO of the Cooperative Hospital explains his group's
stand on the raging Blue Card controversy when interviewed
by Mayor Dan Lim (l) in his weekly radio program over
DYRD yesterday. Foto DANNY REYES
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The
Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative
(Coop Hospital) has offered to pay the city government
for the amount involved, including damages, for the
uncovered padding of claims made on the Blue Card Hospitalization
program.
This
was bared by the Medical Mission Group federation's
founder and chief executive officer Dr. Jose Tiongco
who was interviewed over City Mayor Dan Lim's weekly
radio program, "Katin-awan ug Baruganan" yesterday.
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"There
must be restitution for the amount of money involved and [for]
damages," according to Tiongco.
Tiongco,
who is based in Davao, said he learned of the anomalies at
the Tagbilaran Coop Hospital last August and immediately came
over to talk to the mayor who was already considering the
termination of the Coop Hospital lease of the buildings owned
by the city government.
He
said charges against those found responsible for the padding
of claims are being pursued while he assured that the Coop
Hospital's objectives will be strengthened.
"I
came here as CEO of the federation of 24 chapters [of the
MMG Coop Hospitals] and to help rectify the defects of the
hospital," he declared.
Tiongco
said, "the federation is willing to help the Tagbilaran
Coop Hospital."
CHANGES
PROPOSED
According
to Tiongco, the Coop Hospital will implement changes not only
with its management but also the health services it offers
to the community.
He
discussed about adopting the cooperative health program at
the hospital that could benefit even those with meager budget
for their health.
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The
concept is based on a study that an average Filipino
is only willing to apportion about P1,200 per year for
hospitalization and medical care.
In
a community of 100 people, at least 5 will be needing
hospital care at a given time at an average cost of
P10,000 per patient, which is much higher than the P1,200
budget.
However,
if the 100 people agrees to take part in the cooperative,
they will raise some P120,000. If 5 people get sick
at one time, then the cooperative will spend P50,000
(P10,000 each patient), with the remaining P70,000 of
the cooperative funds ready for minor ailments that
does not need hospitalization.
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NO
TERMINATION?
The
city mayor has reportedly cancelled his order for the termination
of the lease of hospital buildings after Tiongco interceded.
It
may be recalled that based on the findings of an investigation
team created to investigate the padding of Blue Card claims,
the mayor asked for P1.5 million refund from Coop Hospital
including damages.
However,
the hospital's chairman of the board of directors Dr. Ma Grace
Araneta declared they were going to pay only P150,000 as only
one padded claim transaction has been actually paid by the
city government.
This
drew the ire of the mayor who declared he will terminate the
hospital's lease.
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