DOH slaps notice vs. hospitals for not increasing capacity for COVID-19 cases

Some private hospitals that allegedly were not able to increase their capacity for COVID-19 patients have received a “notice of first offense” from the Department of Health (DOH), according to the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi).

“Please be reminded that [the] same violations will be meted with stricter penalties. Sa (for the) second offense po, P20,000 na po ang penalty,” PHAPi president Dr. Jose Rene De Grano said in Raffy Tima’s Unang Balita report on Tuesday.

Under the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, both public and private hospitals must increase their capacity for COVID-19 cases. For private hospitals, the capacity must be raised to 30% from 20% amid a renewed surge in infections.

“Although we would like to, it’s not really doable kasi (because) we can increase the number of beds but who will manage that?” De Grano lamented.

“Walang pagkukunan ng additional na nurses. Otherwise, masa-sacrifice ‘yung mga non-COVID areas ng hospital. Hirap ka na ngang huminga, sinasakal ka pa,” he added.

(There is nowhere to get additional nurses from. Otherwise, the non-COVID areas in the hospital would be sacrificed. You’re being choked when you’re already struggling to breathe.)

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, the country's treatment czar, said hospitals in need of additional manpower should request assistance from their regional health director.

Over 100 doctors and nurses from other regions have been deployed to augment the health workforce in Metro Manila, which is bearing the brunt of the surge in cases. 

The DOH earlier admitted, however, that while it has the funds to hire more health workers

Meanwhile, De Grano said the demand for hospital beds remains high even outside Metro Manila.

“Ang pila pa rin sa waitlisted na for admission, gano’n pa rin, ang taas pa rin (The waitlist for hospital admission remains long),” De Grano said, noting that some hospitals have as many as 30 to 60 people on their waitlist.

Vega earlier said there was a spike in hospital occupancy in Regions 3 and 4. 

"Steady ang number of utilization, in fact nasa 76% to 78% pa rin sa all [hospital] levels, level one to three. Pero kung titingnan mo naman ang intensive care units, nasa high-risk position talaga parati,” he said.

(The utilization rate is steady at 76% to 78% in all [hospital] levels, levels one to three. But if you look at intensive care units, the utilization rate is always at high risk.)

The DOH has set up modular hospitals and tents to address the surge in COVID-19 cases.  The government aims to put up five more modular hospitals by June. 

Another hospital group previously said healthcare facilities were already “overwhelmed” by the spike in cases. —Julia Mari Ornedo/KBK, GMA News