Hospitals must still provide essential services amid pandemic, says DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) reminded hospitals that they are still required to provide essential healthcare services amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department had received reports that some Filipinos were being denied by hospitals busy attending to COVID-19 patients.

An asthmatic senior citizen from Nueva Ecija was earlier reported to have died after being rejected by six hospitals. 

Vergeire underscored that a circular of the DOH mandates hospitals to continuously provide essential services despite the ongoing crisis caused by the coronavirus.

She listed the following as essential healthcare services:

• antenatal and postpartum services, birthing facilities, and essential intrapartum and newborn care for pregnant women
• immunization
• management of malnutrition and micronutrient supplementation
• treatment for tuberculosis, HIV, and other illnesses, and,
• mental health services

“Ang pamumuno ng pamahalaang local ay dapat nao-oversee ang kanilang health facilites para makapagbigay pa rin po ng essential healthcare services para sa ating mga kababayan,” the undersecretary said.

“Naiintindihan po namin na mahirap ang ating kasalukuyang sitwasyon… ngunit ngayon, mas kinakailangan ng ating kapwa Pilipino ang ating atensyon at serbisyo sa kanilang mga medikal na pangangailangan.” —LDF, GMA News