‘RMPH doctors, staffers get cut from med sales’
ROXAS City – A top official of the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital ( RMPH) confirmed that some doctors and staffers i nstruct patients t o buy medicines from pharmacies they recommend.
These doctors and staffers get a cut from the sale of the medicines they prescribe, Hospital Administrator Melanie Arancillo told this reporter.
While not exactly prohibited, the practice — partly attributed to the insufficient supply of medicines in the hospital’s pharmacy — was perceived to be financially detrimental to patients and folks.
A resident of Barangay Tanque, whose wife gave birth at the RMPH a few days ago, said a medical staffer “required” him to buy medicines and supplies from a local drugstore across the hospital.
“This drugstore sells this paraphernalia needed for our baby’s antibiotic transfusion at a price P50 higher compared to the same paraphernalia sold in a more popular drugstore,” said the resident, who requested anonymity.
“I heard some doctors and medical staffers get a share from the sale of medicines and medical paraphernalia,” he told this reporter.
Arancillo confirmed these claims. Those against this were encouraged to “file a complaint … and we will act on it immediately,” she told this reporter.
The RMPH was criticized for the insufficient supply of medicines and medical supplies in its pharmacy despite the campaign promise of Gov. Antonio del Rosario that he will give priority to health programs. Patients and folks had to buy from pharmacies outside of the hospital as a result.
“There was a problem in the procurement process, which we already addressed,” Arancillo said. “We reconstituted the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and replaced the members with new ones. A separate BAC for hospitals was created, too.”
She acknowledged that some “end users” in the RMPH were “not familiar with procedures [ under] RA ( Republic Act) 9184,” or the Government