DOH urged to tap BPOs to help One Hospital Command Center

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday called on the Department of Health (DOH) to tap business process outsourcing (BPO) companies to help in the operations of the currently overwhelmed One Hospital Command Center, the government's centralized hospital referral system.

In a statement, Hontiveros expressed alarm over reports where some citizens said OHCC returned their call for help as late as three days later, when their loved ones have already succumbed to COVID-19.

“An efficient and well-coordinated hospital referral system is a vital part of our response to public health emergencies. Imagine how many lives we could have saved if only we promptly answered and facilitated all these distress calls,” she said.

“Because of our world-class BPOs, when the world calls, Filipinos answer. We don't deserve these busy lines. No one deserves to be kept hanging on the line while their lives are also on the line,” she added.

Hontiveros said BPOs could become "potential collaborators" for the OHCC, with their technological capacity, infrastructure and resources.

She added that the country's BPO industry is "world-renowned," and enlisting their help would allow OHCC to answer more calls, refer more patients to hospitals, and save more lives.

Hontiveros also said that once the command center is upgraded, it can also expanded to a "one-stop shop" for COVID-19 emergencies that will not only facilitate hospital transfers for patients but also as a teleconsultation platform and a portal for remote patient monitoring. --NB, GMA News