Private hospitals eye 5% fee hike amid rising costs

National

A GROUP of private hospitals is considering a five-percent increase in hospital fees as operating costs continue to rise, driven by higher fuel prices and the increasing cost of medical supplies and basic commodities.

According to Jose Rene de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc., some hospitals are already evaluating adjustments to their rates to cope with mounting expenses.

“Some hospitals are thinking of raising the cost by at least five percent to cover the increase in fuel prices, prices of goods, medicines, supplies, transportation and utilities,” De Grano said in a Philstar report.

He emphasized that hospitals rely heavily on power, particularly through standby generator sets, which have become more expensive to operate due to rising fuel costs.

“Hospitals cannot operate without standby generator sets,” he said.

While some facilities have shifted to renewable energy to augment their power supply, De Grano noted that these options also come with higher costs.

Given these challenges, he said that the implementation of a fee increase among many member hospitals may be inevitable, although efforts are being made to keep adjustments minimal.

“Hopefully, the increase will not be that substantial. It will depend on how the hospitals can be resilient and can sustain their present situation without increasing their rates,” he added.

The possible fee hike comes as the healthcare sector continues to face economic pressures, raising concerns about affordability and access to medical services. (Samantha Faye Alcoma, CTU-TC BAEL-ELSD Intern)