MMC hits full capacity, ‘can no longer extend’ same quality care for COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati Medical Center (MMC) has announced that it already reached its full capacity for COVID-19 cases and “can no longer extend the same degree of care and attention for any additional admission” of people infected with the respiratory disease.

“After a thorough review of our bed capacity [particularly the Critical Care units], workforce availability, and supply of vital infection prevention equipment, and in consultation without respective medical teams and the Management, we regret to inform you that Makati Medical Center has now reached FULL CAPACITY. This is insofar as our capability to handle patients suspected to have COVID-19 is concerned,” MMC said in a statement Tuesday.

According to MMC, it has catered to more than 700 people suspected of having COVID-19 since the outbreak.

“To cope with the surge of suspected COVID-19 cases, MMC has expanded its physical and manpower capability to admit more patients, hired new recruits [both nurses and physicians] and closed some areas to augment workforce in other vital units,” MMC said.

“MMC presently takes care of close to 70 in-patients [of which almost15% are in the Intensive Care Unit] including those who are COVID-19 positive and those awaiting test results,” it added.

Among these patients, MMC said, are some of their own frontline physicians, nurses, technicians, and nursing aides.

“MMC has reached its threshold in its capability to respond to more COVID-19 cases. As such, we can no longer extend the same degree of care and attention for any additional admission for COVID-19 cases,” MMC said.

“While at the Emergency Department, we will try to give you preliminary evaluation and treatment, but we cannot guarantee a room for your admission. We will exert every effort to find you another healthcare facility of your choice [or ours],” it added.

Similarly, the management of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City (SLMC-QC) and Global City in Taguig (SLMC-GC) has announced that they will no longer accept COVID-19 patients for confinement after both of their facilities reached their maximum capacity.

All these announcements came as the Philippines recorded a total of 552 people infected with COVID-19 as of Tuesday afternoon.

KGA