By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Board plans to impose sanctions against private hospitals in the province that refuse suspected 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) patients. According to Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who presides of the local legislative body, “We will formulate a provincial ordinance by next week based on a draft from the Provincial Health Office.”
The proposal came following reports a suspected nCoV patient was denied admission by a private hospital in Bacolod City and was referred to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.
“They have to accept the patients and not just refer them to other hospitals,” the vice governor affirmed.
The Department of Health earlier announced they will be setting aside funds to subsidize private hospitals in order for them to be equipped to admit nCoV patients.
Meanwhile, district hospitals in Valladolid, Cadiz City, Kabankalan City, Silay City, and San Carlos City are being considered as facilities to quarantine patients under investigation./DGB, WDJ