2 NCR hospitals eyed as exclusive facilities for COVID-19 patients

The Department of Health (DOH) is considering designating two hospitals as exclusive facilities that would cater to patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday.

Duque confirmed that the Philippine General Hospital in Manila and the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan are being eyed to carry out such crucial task amid the public health emergency in the country.

"'Yun ang ating binubuong plano sa ngayon," he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

There is a need for such specialized health facilities as other hospital services are being disrupted by the COVID-19 risks, Duque explained.

"Nauubusan din sila ng hospital staff sa kaka-quarantine dahil kasama 'yun kapag nangalaga ka ng COVID patient," Duque, himself on self-quarantine after undergoing test for the disease, said.

"Itong bagong concept natin ay specialized only for COVID patients. So 'yung mga doktor doon, mga nurses doon nalang sila ika-quarantine, ang rotation doon nalang, hindi 'yung maghihiraman," he added.

The DOH chief said health authorities are still ironing out the plan as this would mean that non-coronavirus patients who are currently confined at the two hospitals would have to be transferred to other hospitals.

In a separate statement, the DOH said that the PGH has "begun ceasing admission for non-emergency cases to free up wards and rooms."

Additional health care workers from the National Capital Region will be needed to augment the existing staff at the PGH, it added.

The Lung Center of the Philippines will also dedicate a 40-bed wing specifically for COVID-19 patients only.

"Because LCP is the referral hospital for patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and lung cancer, care must be taken not to expose these immunocompromised patients," the DOH said.

During a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that health authorities are also planning to tap other hospitals in strategic areas across the country to become COVID-19 health care facilities.

The Philippines currently has 217 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 17 of which resulted in deaths. --KBK, GMA News