PGH accepts DOH request to serve as COVID-19 referral center

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Monday accepted the request of the Department of Health (DOH) to serve as a referral center for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

At a virtual press briefing, PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi said they would serve as a referral center along with the Lung Center of the Philippines, and the Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.

The PGH initially committed 130 beds for COVID-19 patients.

Legaspi clarified that this did not mean that PGH would be strictly open to COVID-19 patients only.

“Admission to the referral center will initially be limited to mild PUIS who are at high risk for deterioration," he explained further. "Eventually, when testing for COVID-19 has been made readily available, only confirmed COVID-19 patients will be sent to the referral centers.”

Under this system, persons under investigation (PUI) in mild condition would only be triaged at their local health units.

Legaspi also assured the public that the PGH Cancer Institute would remain open for cancer patients.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said they were eyeing the said hospitals as COVID-19 referral centers.

The Philippines so far has 462 cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths and 18 recoveries. — DVM, GMA News