QC PR
Mayor Joy Belmonte has issued protocols to guide the 14 national government-run hospitals in Quezon City to better coordinate with the local government in the handling of deaths related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In the guidelines dated April 11, 2020, Belmonte stressed the need for standard guidelines in dealing with COVID-19-related deaths after she observed that national-run hospitals have been passing the responsibility of processing the burial or cremation of cadavers to the local government, whether resident or not.
“We have crafted guidelines to make sure the cadavers are efficiently managed within our city”, said Belmonte.
Quezon City is home to 14 national government hospitals, with some designated by the Department of Health (DOH) as referral hospitals for COVID-19 cases.
Belmonte said some QC-based national hospitals not designated as referral hospitals are also accepting patients that were later on tested positive for COVID-19. Hospitals also accept patients from outside of Quezon City.
In the localized protocols, Belmonte encouraged hospitals to follow the 12-hour period for cremation of the cadaver as provided under DOH Guidelines 2020-0067 in order to curb the spread of the virus.
In addition, she requested government hospitals to designate a point person who will coordinate with the local government to ensure that reports and referrals are coursed through the proper channel.
“The designated point person shall be responsible in reporting to the city government all unclaimed COVID-19 related deaths within a reasonable period of time,” Belmonte said in her issuance.
The point person is also tasked to provide all vital information and process the requirements for the unclaimed cadavers prior to the cremation or burial by the city government.
After receiving the report from the hospital point person, the City Social Welfare and Development Department will determine if the deceased will be referred to the Baesa Crematorium if indigent or to funeral service providers accredited by the City.
If the deceased was not a resident of Quezon City, the point person will coordinate with the family of the deceased for the cremation.
In the absence of a relative, the point person will coordinate with the local government where the deceased resided to facilitate the processing of the cremation or burial.
Belmonte also asked the government hospitals to ensure that the cadaver is properly stored in a morgue with freezer while awaiting for the schedule of cremation or retrieval to halt untimely decomposition and control the spread of the virus, although the city would aid the hospital to provide this service if needed.
