Mark Villar welcomes passage of tougher anti-hospital detention bill

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Mark Villar welcomes the Senate’s approval of a bill imposing heavier penalties on hospitals and medical clinics that detain patients or their families because of unpaid medical expenses.

The upper chamber has recently approved Senate Bill No. 1511, or the proposed Enhanced Anti-Hospital Detention Act, on third and final reading with 18 affirmative votes, no negative votes, and one abstention.

The bill seeks to strengthen Republic Act No. 9439, which prohibits hospitals and clinics from preventing patients unable to settle their medical bills immediately from going home.

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READ: Senate passes anti-hospital detention bill

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“Hospitals and clinics should not become jails for our countrymen who can’t immediately pay for their bills,” Villar said in Filipino in a statement issued on Monday.

As he pointed out, hospitalization already places families under significant emotional and financial pressure. So they should not be humiliated over unpaid accounts.

Under the proposed law, hospitals and clinics found illegally detaining patients, newborn babies, or the remains of deceased patients would face heavier penalties.

The same provision also applies to patients’ relatives, representatives, and caregivers — preventing a practice known as “palit-ulo,” in which a hospital or clinic requires them to remain at the facility in exchange for the release of their patient.

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It also prohibits medical facilities from withholding newborns following maternity-related treatment or refusing to release the remains of deceased patients because of unsettled hospital bills.

Under the bill, hospital employees or officers directly responsible for an illegal detention may be fined up to ₱300,000 or imprisoned for up to two years and four months.

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Hospital directors or officers who create or enforce policies permitting illegal detention may face fines ranging from ₱500,000 to ₱1 million and imprisonment of four to six years.

A medical facility may also lose its license to operate after three violations committed under such a policy.

READ: IN THE KNOW: Anti-Hospital Deposit Law

Villar clarified, however, that the measure would neither cancel legitimate medical debts nor prevent hospitals from collecting unpaid obligations. Instead, it would require healthcare facilities to use legal and humane collection methods.

Patients unable to pay their bills immediately may issue promissory notes supported by legally recognized security or guarantee arrangements. Qualified patients may also obtain guarantee letters from appropriate government agencies.

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Villar acknowledged that hospitals must remain financially sustainable and have the right to collect valid debts, but stressed that financial considerations should not take precedence over a patient’s freedom and dignity. /atm