BY ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
With more hospitals in Metro Manila starting to max out their bed capacity, Malacañang said the public can avail of the medical services provided by other local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region in case facilities in their own city cannot attend to their needs.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after several private hospitals in Metro Manila last week declared “full capacity” and won’t be able to accept COVID-19 patients.
Roque said even though they are not living there, a person can avail of the medical services provided by an LGU in their alternative medical facilities that were set up to make up for the filled-up hospitals.
“Puwede po, kasama po iyan sa katungkulan ni (Health) Undersecretary (Leopoldo) Vega sa kanyang (They can. That is part of the functions of Undersecretary Vega’s) One Hospital Incident command,” he said.
“Nira-rationalize niya po kung nasaan ang mga bakanteng kama, at siya po ang nagre-referee, kung saan dapat pumunta ang mga mayroong pangangailangan (He is the one rationalizing the hospital beds and telling where one should go for medical attention),” he added.
Last week, St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) said its COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit beds in Quezon City and Global City are already filled. Admissions and treatment of non-COVID cases, including outpatient procedures, on the other hand, will still be accommodated in both branches.
Makati Medical Center (MMC) likewise announced that all its COVID-19 zones – including its ICU, regular wards, and emergency room – were already full.
Vega had earlier said that the critical care capacity for ICU beds in the country has reached the “danger zone” as the number of persons infected with COVID-19 continues to rise.
Metro Manila is under the general community quarantine (GCQ) until the end of the month. However, it was revealed that the region was supposed to revert to stricter quarantine but LGUs were given the chance to prove they can address the pandemic.
Among the factors being considered in determining what form of community quarantine should be implemented in an area are the case doubling rate and critical care capacity.
