COVID-19 referral center to be regionalized, says DOH exec

The Philippines’ COVID-19 referral center is being regionalized to improve coordination among local and national authorities and healthcare providers as infections spike in parts of the country, the Philippines' treatment czar said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said regional hospital commands have been set up in Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Southern Mindanao, and Caraga.

Its headquarters located in Metro Manila, the One COVID-19 Referral Center, previously known as the One Hospital Command Center, connects patients needing medical attention to healthcare facilities

“Dahan dahan namin itong nire-regionalize kasi alam namin na marami rin kaming (We are slowly regionalizing this because we know that we receive many) calls coming from outside Metro Manila,” Vega said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“Malaking breakthrough po ito lalong lalo na sa interconnectivity between the regional and the national institutions para po mas mabilis ang ating pag-aksyon, lalong lalo na sa mga pangangailangan ng mga regional hospitals at medical centers,” he added.

(This is a big breakthrough, especially for the interconnectivity between the regional and national institutions to fast-track our response to the needs of regional hospitals and medical centers.)

There has been an uptick in COVID-19 infections in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, while cases are slowly going down in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces. 

Several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao have been placed under the more stringent modified enhanced community quarantine until the end of the month in a bid to stem transmission. 

The healthcare capacities of the two island groups are also being expanded amid the spike in cases, Vega said. 

Meanwhile, he said the services of the COVID-19 referral center in Metro Manila have improved after 80 more personnel were hired and the headquarters were transferred to a bigger location.

The One COVID-19 Referral Center may be reached through hotline 1555, 02-886-505-00, 0915-777-7777, or 0919-977-3333. — RSJ, GMA News