DOH chief fumes over report hospitals turn down a dengue patient

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was deeply angered by a report that some hospitals in Cavite province allegedly refused to admit a dengue patient.

A State of the Nation with Jessica Soho report by Chino Gaston on Thursday said that on March 6, dengue patient Riceza Salgo was not admitted in the Cavite Provincial Health Office as according to the hospital staff, they have shortage on hospital beds.

"'Wag na kayo mag-doctor dito kung pasyente din pala ang magsasabi kung ano gagawin ninyo," Duque told the staff.

In an interview, Duque said, "Totally unacceptable. That's why we will have this investigated. This is a warning to all the other hospitals. You cannot deny an emergency patient."

The child's mother added that staff from the General Trias (GenTri) Medical Center and Hospital and the General Trias (GenTri) Doctors Medical Center refused to admit Riceza.

However, staff from the GenTri Doctors Medical Center said the mother supposedly did not ask for her child's admission in the hospital.

"Wala po kaming blood bank then umalis na po siya. Bumalik po siya, nagtanong pa po siya kung san pa may blood bank. Sinabi po namin sa GenTri Medical po," the female staff said.

To this, Duque asked, "Why did you not try to have your own assessment to find out, did your own evaluation of the patient."

Meanwhile, the staff from GenTri Medical Center claimed that the mother only asked about the hospital fees.

"If only people have malasakit, if only people who knew what they needed to do under the circumstances... this is like your daughter," Duque said.

Riceza was then brought to De La Salle University Hospital in Dasmariñas, Cavite where she died.

Duque has been visiting public hospitals to check if dengue patients are given priority attention by the medical staff, particularly those given Dengvaxia.

The health department is still investigating whether the deaths of some children are linked to Dengvaxia. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP, GMA News