Lung Center's PPE stocks quickly depleting amid increasing COVID-19 patients, PUIs

The Lung Center of the Philippines is quickly running out of personal protective equipment (PPE) amid the increasing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and persons under investigation (PUIs).

According to Dr. Edmund Villaroman, the hospital consumes more than 100 sets of PPEs per day.

They have received donations from various non-government organizations but these are still not enough to meet their needs.

"Our stocks are quickly depleting. We still urgently need PPEs," Villaroman told GMA News Online.

READ: Lung Center doctors ask for donations for healthcare workers battling COVID-19 threat

According to Dr. Antonio Ramos, head of the administrative services division at the Lung Center of the Philippines, their stocks of PPEs will only last for one more day if no additional supplies arrive.

"We only have 98 right now and I think we are going to need more per day if we are going to add to our isolation rooms," he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) said the lack of PPEs for healthcare workers is due to a global shortage as many countries battle the spread of COVID-19.

"May nagsasabi po na ang laki-laki ng budget ng DOH, bakit hindi bumili? Gusto man po nating bumili, wala po tayong mabilhan kaya umaasa po tayo sa donasyon sa ngayon,” said Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire.

Hospitals have been forced to improvise and create their own PPEs to protect their staff from contracting the virus while treating patients.

READ: Laguna hospital staff use plastic, trash bags as improvised PPEs

More than 600 healthcare workers from University of Santo Tomas Hospital and The Medical City in Pasig have been placed under quarantine after being exposed to positive cases of COVID-19.

A cardiologist died while on duty and another doctor has become a PUI after being exposed to the positive cases of the virus. 

As of Monday, the Philippines has 396 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths. --Bernadette Reyes/MGP, GMA News