Question & AnswerQ&A (BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 702)
The main purpose of Batas Pambansa Blg. 702 is to prohibit hospitals and medical clinics from demanding deposits or advance payments for confinement or treatment in emergency or serious cases.
Any director, manager, or any other officer of a hospital or medical clinic is prohibited from demanding deposits or advance payments for confinement or treatment in emergency or serious cases.
It is unlawful to demand deposits or advance payments in emergency or serious cases requiring confinement or treatment in hospitals or medical clinics.
Officers who violate Section 1 shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand pesos but not more than two thousand pesos, or imprisonment for not less than fifteen days but not more than thirty days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
No, any person convicted under this Act is not entitled to probation under the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 968, as amended, also known as the Probation Law of 1976.
The Ministry of Health is mandated to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
This Act took effect upon its approval on April 5, 1984.
No, the law specifically prohibits demanding deposits or advance payments only in emergency or serious cases.
No, any demand for deposits or any other form of advance payment for confinement or treatment in emergency cases is unlawful under this law.
The maximum penalties include a fine of up to two thousand pesos, or imprisonment for up to thirty days, or both.