No free treatment for firecracker injuries ordered
PHO POLICY THIS YEAR
WARNING! Any person who suffers from burns as a result of firecracker accidents will now have to pay for hospital treatment in government hospitals!
Dr. Ana de Guzman, chief of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), said this drastic policy was adopted to further discourage persons from lighting firecrackers during the holidays, particularly on New Year’s Eve.
She said, would-be victims of firecrackers, including those who claim to be indigent, will have to pay their own bills for treatment and confinement.
Only indigent cases requiring amputation and confinement more than four days will be exempted since they can claim PhilHealth’s Point of Care Program (POC), she said.
De Guzman clarified that treatment of firecracker injuries that used to be provided free in the past will now have to be charged since they show they have the means to buy firecrackers that could lead to their injuries.
De Guzman expressed hope that cases of firecracker injuries will again decrease this year after noting a 20% decrease of cases of firecracker injuries in 2015. (Nora Dominguez)
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