On DOH 'disconnect' with COVID-19 situation on the ground, doctors' group says system should be checked

A doctors' group on Saturday said the Department of Health (DOH) should look into its reporting system to check why there is a "disconnect" between their data and the COVID-19 situation on the ground.

"Ang hindi po maintindihan o ma-explain ay ang pangyayari na hindi na nare-reflect 'yung tunay na nangyayari on the ground. I think dapat tingnan natin kung paano ang reporting system para sa pagtingin ng bed capacity ng mga ospital. May disconnect po diyan," Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Maricar Limpin said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(What is not clear or can be explained is the [DOH data] do not reflect what is truly happening on the ground. I think they should look into their system of reporting bed capacity of hospitals. There is a disconnect.)

Limpin said the DOH data showed the bed capacity of hospitals are at around 70%. However, healthcare workers know that the intensive care units, regular wards, and emergency rooms are full, she said.

"Kasi kung titingnan natin ang datos na pinapakita ng Department of Health ay ang bed capacity ng mga hospital ay mga nasa 70% po. So ibig sabihin maraming pang mga beds na puwedeng paglagyan ng mga pasyente na nagkakaroon ng COVID-19," Limpin said.

(If we will look at data shown by DOH, they say that the bed capacity of hospitals is at 70%. That means there are still beds where patients with COVID-19 could be accommodated.)

"Pero kami po ay talagang nag-aalaga ng mga pasyenteng may COVID-19, at alam namin na ang mga ICU at mga regular wards ay puno na po, at pati na ang emergency department. Ang emergency department ang tunay na magre-reflect kung mayroon pa pong kakayahan na tanggapin o admitin ang mga pasyente," she said.

(But we are the ones taking care of COVID-19 patients, and we know that the ICUs, regular wards are full, even the emergency department. The emergency department will truly reflect if a hospital has the capacity to accommodate or admit a patient.)

"Ang ER (emergency room) umaapaw na po sa pasyente. Marami sa pasyente sa emergency room po, 'yung ibang mga pasyente, naka-ventilator at respirator. Binibigay na po namin ang iba pang respiratory support hindi lang po oxygen kundi pati mga makina na puwedeng magbigay ng mataas na concentration ng oxygen sa mga pasyenteng nahihirapan huminga," Limpin added.

(The ER is overflowing with patients. Many of those in the emergency room are already on ventilators and respirators. We are already giving them respiratory support, not just oxygen but machines that could provide a higher concentration of oxygen to patients with difficulty of breathing.)

She also said their counterparts in hospitals in the provinces especially in Calabarzon and Cebu have been saying that they are already lacking in respirators and oxygen.

"So lahat ng ito ay senyales na talagang overwhelmed na ang healthcare system," she said.

(So all of these are signs that the healthcare system is truly overwhelmed.)

Limpin said one of their recommendations is to digitalize the reporting system and collection of data so the DOH will be able to get all data in real time.

The DOH admitted last week that there was a "disconnect" between their data and the actual situation on the ground regarding COVID-19 cases in the country.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are monitoring the situation. —KG, GMA News