Chinese General Hospital will not turn down COVID-19 patients, says medical director

Published July 07, 2020 01:18 PM By DONA MAGSINO, GMA News

The Chinese General Hospital in Manila can still accommodate COVID-19 patients and has a referral mechanism in place in case the beds designated for the disease are already full, according to its medical director Dr. Samuel Ang on Tuesday.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Ang clarified the recent letter he released urging their hospital doctors to limit the admission of COVID-19 patients to a "manageable level."

"It gives people the impression that Chinese [General Hospital] was overwhelmed. Hindi po totoo 'yan. The memo for some reason na nag-leak sa social media was meant for our doctors," he said.

"That memo was taken out of context. I was encouraging my staff na 'yung mga mild lang... sa bahay na lang mag-quarantine," he added.

Ang explained that every hospital was mandated by the Department of Health to allot 30% of its facilities for COVID-19 patients.

Though admitting that the occupancy of COVID-19 beds in the Chinese General Hospital is nearing full capacity, the hospital official said it can still accept mild to severe cases right now.

"Pag nag-full na ang COVID natin mayroon kaming tinatawag na exhaust fan—ibig sabihin meron kaming palalabasan ng COVID kasi I have direct communication with PGH (Philippine General Hospital) and San Lazaro, and they're very cooperative," Ang said. "We will not turn down anybody."

According to the DOH on Monday, 11 hospitals in Metro Manila reported 100 percent utilization rate of their intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients. The Chinese General Hospital is one of these health facilities.—AOL, GMA News

View on GMA News