PGH eyes construction of pandemic-ready buildings

The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) is planning to construct two to three buildings that are “pandemic-ready," PGH director Dr. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi said Thursday.

“Currently, the concern of course, is this pandemic and we looked at our masterplan and we are designing everything, all the new buildings, maybe two or three buildings, in the next five years, all of them to be pandemic-ready,” Legaspi said in a Senate hearing.

He said these building will “close its doors” for other patients and these will be used exclusively for diseases that caused the pandemic such as COVID-19 or measles.

Legaspi also disclosed that the UP-PGH is in the process of establishing the Institute for Emerging Infectious Disease and Responses.

The PGH is also finishing the construction of the isolation complex with 44 beds.

Two 15-storey buildings for cancer care and neuroscience facilities are also planned to be established in the PGH.

He also said another PGH medical school in UP Diliman is underway. This was earlier disclosed by UP President Danilo Concepcion.

“I think the combination of all of this would allow us to educate more trainees, students, and specialists as well. And we are hoping that we are able to do this by expanding our capability,” Legaspi said.

The PGH will be needing the government’s support in constructing these facilities but they are also exploring other modality to fund these projects such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), he said.

Moreover, Legaspi said more aspiring doctors and trainees will benefit should the government put up PGH in strategic areas for education and research purposes.

“We envision a PGH that is not only UP but a PGH that belongs to everyone from all over the country,” he underscored.

“I think the evolution of the teaching-hospital should be one that is open for everyone who is willing to learn and be educated…So we maintain our function as university-hospital in line with the improvement of services to our patients,” he said.

The Senate health and demography committee jointly with the committees on public works; finance; and ways and means conducted a hearing on 10 bills related to health infrastructures in the country.—AOL, GMA News