Garin suggests transforming some gov’t hospitals into full COVID-19 hospitals

Some government hospitals could be turned into full COVID-19 hospitals amid the persisting scarcity of hospital rooms for COVID-19 patients, former Health Secretary and Iloilo Representative Janette Garin suggested on Wednesday.

In a virtual interview with reporters, Garin was asked for her recommendation in addressing the long queues in hospitals just to be admitted amid the resurgence of COVID-19 infections.

Garin stressed that transforming government hospitals into full COVID-19 hospitals need full assistance from the national government.

"There are some government hospitals that can probably be tweaked into full COVID-19 hospitals. The only problem there is the sustainability of that hospital," Garin said.

"Kung nandiyan naman ang gobyerno at pagbibigyan sila ng full assistance in terms of the financial aspect eh siguro kinakailangan na 'yung ibang ospital eh i-convert na (for) pure COVID patients because in that way mas mamamaximize mo 'yung resources ng isang ospital as it is now kasi may mix pa eh," she added.

(If the government can provide full financial assistance to hospitals, some government hospitals can be converted into full COVID hospitals to maximize their resources.)

As regards the non-COVID patients, other government hospitals will cater to their medical needs.

"That’s why you have to proceed to zoning... may ibang ospital na icoconvert mo na full COVID hospital, 'yung iba din naman na government hospitals will do the non-COVID cases," Garin said.

(Some will be converted into full COVID hospitals while others will assist non-COVID cases.)

"Bale nakahiwalay na talaga... kasi what it is now isang hospital ito may covid ward, ito naman non-COVID patients," she added.

(At present, hospitals have a COVID ward and an area for non-COVID patients.)

Despite the situations in hospitals, especially in Metro Manila, Garin still believes that the healthcare system is not yet collapsing. However, if COVID-19 infections continue to spike, the probability of collapsing will be there.

"Well it has not collapsed yet... kung patuloy na dumarami ang kaso the probability of collapsing is there," Garin said.

"If we keep on increasing the cases and if we maintain the slow rollout na walang simultaneous vaccination ng populations, hihintayin muna ang A1, 'yung iba ayaw naman magpabakuna nadedelay tuloy ang lahat... if we will remain as such talagang mahihirapan tayo," she added.

(If there is no simultaneous vaccination among populations, if we keep on waiting for the A1 category to be finished, wherein some of them don't want to be vaccinated, there will be a delay in the vaccination process.) — RSJ, GMA News