THE Commission on Audit has notified the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) that it found incomplete supporting documents for 3,126 indigent patients who received medical care in 2021.
These patients were among 7,055 individuals who were treated at the PGH last year under its Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients program which received P221.94 million in funding from various government offices.
Auditors said among the patients with incomplete papers were those referred by the Office of the President (2,991), the Department of Health-Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) (105), and the Office of the Vice President (6).
Records showed funding sources for the MAIP program were P100 million from the OP, P57.57 million from DOH-MMCHD, P44.33 million from the DOH Central Office, and P13.14 million from the OVP.
The audit team said majority of the patients turned in unsigned white cards or Medical Social Service (MSS) referrals while there were a few cases where the attending physician did not sign the medical abstract, prescription or laboratory request forms were lacking, and signatures of medical social worker were missing.
“Failure to submit the required documents as mentioned above shall constitute the issuance of notice of suspension and/or notice of disallowance as provided under Section 8 of COA Circular No. 2009-006,” the COA said.
Also questioned was excess grant of P13,451.50 in medical assistance from the OVP Public Assistance Group, which was admitted by the OVP, citing an error in computation of allowable financial aid.
The PGH explained that the unsigned white cards were issued during the pandemic and that each card has a validity of five years. It said the MSS has instructed all social workers attending to indigent patients to ensure that the cards would be signed.
It added that duly-accomplished copies of the previously unsigned documents as well as other supporting papers have been forwarded to the audit team as of March 22, 2022.