THE death of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao's 22-year-old relative, Armando Jamora Jr., demonstrates private hospitals' indifference to needy patients and the government's incapability to impose the law against those refusing treatment to people requiring it.

Jamora died of fever and convulsions, and he died without being treated because the hospital where his relatives had taken him declines to accept their P 30,000 down payment and demanded P 50,000.

Senator Juan Flavier, an ex- health secretary, agrees that the health department has failed to check whether or not private hospitals are complying with the law.

"We lack personnel to monitor," he says.