Health advocates and major medical associations have strongly condemned broadcaster Ramon Tulfo over a viral social media post accusing a surgeon of charging an excessive professional fee to a poor patient — allegations they described as false and unfounded.
In a statement released Sunday night, August 10, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said its investigation revealed that the surgeon’s actual professional fee was much lower than the ₱85,000 claimed in Tulfo’s post. PMA president Hector Santos clarified that after discussions between the doctor and the patient, the agreed fee was ₱45,000. The association stressed that professional fees vary depending on “the difficulty and type of service provided.”
“The patient was cared for with deep compassion by several doctors for more than 20 days. The allegation of ‘heartless treatment’ is unjust,” the PMA said.
The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) also issued its support for the surgeon and other medical professionals, calling the spread of unverified accusations “irresponsible” as it undermines public trust in the medical field.
Despite the backlash, Tulfo doubled down on his claims in a Monday post, detailing that the patient had received over ₱350,000 in financial aid from the Malasakit Center, relatives, some politicians, and a foundation. He argued that even with this assistance, the remaining balance was still ₱139,000 — which he said would have been reduced to ₱25,000 if the professional fee had been waived.
Tulfo further claimed that the patient’s child told him no surgery was performed, only wound cleaning, which he believes casts doubt on the fee charged. “One of them is lying,” he told dzMM, insisting on the need to expose excessive billing practices targeting the poor.
Both PMA and PCP urged the public to avoid rushing to judgment and to verify facts before sharing information. “Constructive dialogue — not public vilification — is the way to resolve issues and improve our healthcare system,” the PCP emphasized.
