NCR hospitals not overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases, says PHAPI

Private hospitals in Metro Manila have not been overwhelmed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) said Tuesday.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, PHAPI president Dr. Rustico Jimenez said  some of the 11 Metro Manila hospitals, which the Department of Health had said already had 100% utilization rate of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients, had yet to be so.

“Chineck ko po ’yon, hindi naman po lahat ng nasama doon sa listahan ay totoo po ‘yong report," Jimenez said.

"So ‘yon po ‘yong maganda kasi hindi pa natin (napupuno) ‘yong ICU compliment ng ating mga hospital so available pa po in case makakuha tayo ng mga serious na pasyente,” he added.

Jimenez, however, did not identify the said hospitals.

Earlier, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 11 hospitals in Metro Manila have reported filled up ICU beds for COVID-19 patients.

Vergeire identified the 11 hospitals as the following:

• Veterans Memorial Medical Center
• University of Santo Tomas Hospital
• University of Perpetual Help
• Tondo Medical Center

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• Seamen’s Hospital
• Philippine Children’s Medical Center
• Metro North Medical Center and Hospital
• Las Piñas Doctors Hospital
• De Los Santos Medical Center
• Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center
• Capitol Medical Center

She added that the Lung Center of the Philippines reported a 97% utilization of its COVID-19 ICU beds, while the East Avenue Medical Center recorded 89% and the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center posted 83%.

Jimenez said the status of hospitals nowadays was better due to the increase in medical supplies such as respirators and local personal protective equipment.

“Naka-adjust na po tayo. Marami na pong supply na gagamitin just in case,” he said.

As of Tuesday, the Philippines has recorded a total of 47,873 cases of COVID-19 with 12,386 recoveries and 1,306 deaths. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News