IF COVID-19 REACHES BICOL: DOH to tap private hospitals

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Health (DOH) in the Bicol region on Monday, March 9 disclosed that once the cases of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) intensify and affect the region, health authorities would tap the services of private hospitals to admit and manage patients suspected to be afflicted with the virus.

Dr. Ernie Vera, DOH Bicol chief said “the worst case scenario and as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID if it reaches the region, we will allow second and third levels private hospitals to assist us in the control and spread of the disease.”

Vera said the tapping of public and private hospital would be tapped for preparedness and counter measure in case of possible increase of Covid-19 suspected and confirmed cases.

He said there are 21 hospitals in the region categorized as levels two and three of which five are government-run while 16 are privately owned hospitals.

Level two hospitals are those that have additional facilities like Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for critically ill patients with specialist doctors and clinical laboratory, while these in level three are teaching and training hospitals, which are usually the trauma hospitals that can provide all kinds of medical services.

Asked if these hospital are capable to detect and diagnos patient with symptoms of Covid-19, Vera said these are ready to admit and manage patients but Covid-19 laboratory test would still be submitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicines (RITM) in Muntinlupa City.

As of Mar. 9, Bicol has no confirmed case of Covid-19 and no Persons Under Investigation (PUIs).

Vera said that despite having no confirmed case and PUIs, the health department is calling on the public, local government units, hospitals, national government agencies to intensify efforts to prevent the disease from entering the region.