Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, some patients are now facing a challenge in finding a hospital bed and room.
As of July 22, 211 of the Philippine General Hospital’s (PGH) 210-bed limit for COVID-19 patients have been occupied. Over 50 waitlisted patients with moderate to severe symptoms of COVID-19 are being held off at the emergency room.
The PGH has been transferring mild patients to temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) to be able to admit those waiting in its emergency rooms.
Under the One Hospital Command Policy, the DOH instructs hospitals to increase bed allocation for COVID-19 patients from 30 to 70 percent for public hospitals and 20 to 30 percent for private hospitals. In the case of PGH, the policy will pose a challenge as 40 employees and medical staff are currently admitted in the hospital, resulting in decreased manpower services.
The Philippine Hospital Association (PHA) has raised concerns on the new policy. “Depende sa levels, ‘pag tertiary level hospital, talagang nag-a-admit ‘yan pero sa mga provinces kasi, mga level 1, level 2, mahihirapan without government support (It depends on the level. Tertiary level hospitals do admit but for provinces that have level 1 and 2 hospitals, it won’t be easy without government support),” PHA President Dr. Jaime Almora pointed out.
“Kasi ang isang private hospital kapag nag-admit ng COVID case, wala nang pupunta na non-COVID cases, so walang income ‘yung private hospital. Hindi naman maka-survive ‘yung private hospital ‘pag walang income (If a private hospital admits COVID case, no non-COVID case will be further admitted, so the private hospital will lose income. It will not survive without income),” Almora added.
In response, the DOH assured to address the problem on lack of manpower. It added that the DOH continues to hire additional health workers. DOH USec. Vergeire disclosed that they have hired “5,484 HRH out of the 8,694 approved slots for emergency hiring in 309 health facilities” as of July 22.
The department is also studying to incentivize private hospitals that will expand their bed capacity, including tax deductions and fast-tracking of PhilHealth reimbursements.
Meanwhile, latest data show there are now 74,390 COVID-19 cases, 24,383 recoveries, and 1,871 deaths in the country. – Report from Mark Fetalco
