Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9439)
Republic Act No. 9439 prohibits any hospital or medical clinic from detaining patients who have fully or partially recovered, have been adequately attended to, or who may have died, on grounds of nonpayment of hospital bills or medical expenses.
Patients who have fully or partially recovered and wish to leave, or deceased patients, are protected from detention for nonpayment under this Act.
No, patients who stayed in private rooms are explicitly excluded from the protections of this Act.
The hospital or clinic must allow the patient to leave upon execution of a promissory note for the unpaid amount. The promissory note must be secured by a mortgage or a co-maker who is jointly and severally liable.
The hospital or clinic must release the death certificate and other pertinent documents to any surviving relative requesting them, despite unpaid bills.
They may be fined between P20,000 and P50,000, or face imprisonment from one to six months, or both, at the court's discretion.
The Department of Health is responsible for promulgating the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
The patient must execute a promissory note covering the unpaid obligation, secured by either a mortgage or a jointly liable co-maker.
The Act took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two national newspapers of general circulation.
If any provision is declared void or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.