Private hospitals in Quezon City will now automatically refer potential and positive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases to the city government for further action.
This was the agreement made during a recent meeting between Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and 30 private hospitals in the city. The city government and the private hospitals also pledged to work closely in the fight against the deadly coronavirus.
Belmonte also assured private hospitals of full support from the local government in the fight against COVID-19
Belmonte said private hospitals have committed to immediately inform the local government when a patient is showing symptoms of respiratory illness, instead of sending them home for further monitoring.
“We can refer the patient to one of our quarantine facilities where they can be given immediate medical attention,” said Belmonte.
Under DOH Memorandum No. 2020-0108 issued on March 11, 2020, hospitals are advised to send home persons under investigation (PUIs) and positive COVID-19 patients showing mild symptoms for strict self-isolation and close monitoring by local health authorities.
Belmonte expressed concern over the protocol, saying it would only worsen the situation as the patient could potentially spread the virus to his family and community.
“Ang problema, malaki ang tsansa na mahawa pa ng pasyente ang mga kasama nito sa bahay at sa komunidad. Lalo lang lalala ang problema sa halip na masolusyunan,” she said.
During the meeting, Belmonte also assured private hospitals of full support from the local government in the fight against COVID-19.
“The local government will procure equipment such as ventilators and mobile intensive care unit (ICU), but we need the private hospitals to send some of their personnel to assist us in operating these machines,” said Belmonte.
The local government will also request hospitals outside Quezon City to refer to them PUIs or COVID-positive patients who are residing in QC, instead of advising them to undergo home quarantine.
“The local government will procure equipment such as ventilators and mobile intensive care unit (ICU).”
Meanwhile, the local government is also working on an online system where local residents can reach out to medical personnel on their concerns about COVID-19.
Dubbed “Telemedicine”, the online system gives residents a chance to consult and get expert advice from doctors via video conferencing.
The system is seen to help reduce the influx of patients in national and local hospitals in Quezon City and at the same time, expedite the process of consultation.