DOH distributes first batch of PPEs to COVID-19 referral hospitals

The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday that the first batch of the one million personal protective equipment (PPE) sets it procured has been distributed to COVID-19 referral hospitals in Luzon.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the first 15,000 PPE sets arrived on Tuesday night.

The first batch was distributed to the East Avenue Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center.

The remaining 985,000 sets are expected to arrive between April 6 and 24.

The DOH added that PPE sets were also delivered to 22 recipients from Regions II, IV-A, VII, X, XI, XII and CARAGA on Tuesday.

Vergeire earlier explained that the PPE sets procured by the DOH are pricier than the ones purchased by the Office of the Vice President because each 1,800-peso set contains eight types of protective gear. 

Each set consists of coveralls, N95 masks, gloves, head cover, shoe cover, goggles, surgical mask, and surgical gown.

The DOH also underscored that the purchase of the PPE sets was facilitated by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management.

The department said hospitals and other healthcare facilities in need of PPEs may make a request through covid19logistics@gmail.com. —LDF, GMA News