Duque to call heads of hospitals turning away COVID-19 patients

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday said he will likely meet on Thursday with directors of hospitals have declared a stop in the admission of patients after their facilities hit full capacity amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response.

Interviewed on Dobol sa News TV, Duque pointed out the these hospitals should look for ways to continue providing health care to their patients despite the lack of hospital beds.

“Kailangan na pulungin ang mga director ng mga pribadong ospital na ito at kausapin ko sila baka bukas,” Duque said.

“Dapat humanap sila ng pamamaraan para patuloy ang kanilang pag-aalaga ng kanilang mga pasyente,” he added.

Some private hospitals recently announced blocking admission access to their facilities because they could no longer handle patients with their limited resources.

On Tuesday, the Makati Medical Center said it would no longer accept COVID-19 patients for confinement as they have already reached maximum capacity.

Aside from exceeding their full capacity, the St. Luke’s Medical Center Quezon City and Global City said the facilities were already understaffed after hundreds of workers went into quarantine due to exposure to infected patients.

In a report on Wednesday Afternoon, the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center said it would also stop admitting  COVID-19 patients.

Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, hindi na muna tatanggap ng COVID-19 patients. | via @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/tYq6aeodC9

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 25, 2020

Meanwhile, Duque said the DOH is still preparing COVID-19 dedicated hospitals including the Lung Center of the Philippines, the Philippine General Hospital, and the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News