The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) advised the public to go to other hospitals for their medical attention as the capacity of its emergency room reached full occupancy.
According to NKTI, a large number of its admissions are dialysis patients, as well as those diagnosed with leptospirosis and COVID-19.
The emergency room of NKTI has reached three times its capacity. There are a total of 62 dialysis machines in NKTI that are already scheduled for patients.
NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rosemarie Liquete said the facility is catering not just patients with common illnesses but those that require serious medical attention.
“Kasi continuing care ‘yan e… Kaso ito ay namamaga, nahihirapan huminga, manas. Ganon ang picture ng isang pasyenteng may kidney failure. Hindi ‘yan siya nati-treat that instant,” Liquete said.
The NKTI said it is also accepting patients from different provinces, prompting its wards to also hit full occupancy. It also noted the lack of nurses within the facility.
“Maski na magdagdag kami ngayon ng tent, o magbukas kami ng gym, eh kulang kami ng nurse talaga to start with. So sino naman mag-aalaga sa kanila doon?” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they will help the patients to find other health facilities to address their medical needs.
“Actually ang problema talaga is our dialysis patients, hindi talaga yung ER [emergency rooms] na sinasabi apparently kahapon lumalabas, magsasara. Hindi po totoo yun,” she said.
“Hindi magsasara ang NKTI emergency room, they are asking assistance yung mga nagda-dialysis kasi hindi po pa-accomodate sa ngayon ng NKTI yung mga walk-in pa na dialysis,” she added.
The DOH has already designated Tala Hospital in Caloocan, E. Rodriguez Hospital in Marikina, and East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City to receive patients from NKTI. —Report from Kenneth Paciente/KC-ag
