Gov’t buying 200,000 high-flow oxygen devices for COVID-19 patients
MANILA, Philippines — The government plans to buy 200,000 units of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), an oxygen support device health experts recommend to help provide relief to COVID-19 patients.
In a televised press briefing Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government “ordered” at least 200,000 units of HFNC in line with its plan to improve the country’s healthcare capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“’Yung makina na sinasabi ko, meron po tayong order na 200,000 of this machine kasi napatunayan na worldwide na tunay na life-saving machines itong mga ito,” Roque said.
The Palace official, however, did not disclose further details about the planned purchase.
“Ang mabuting balita po ay parang napakamura po niyan kung ikukumpara sa ventilators. So hahanap at hahanap po tayo ng pondo ang sabi ng Presidente dapat marami tayong ganyang makina nang sagayon matulungan ‘yung malubhang nagkakasakit sa COVID,” he said.
READ: Duterte vows to procure nasal devices for COVID-19 patients — Palace
The purchase of HFNC devices was among the government undertakings to fight the coronavirus disease, which has already sickened 82,040 people nationwide.
Roque also said the government is already in talks with several hotels and accommodation establishments to be used as temporary treatment and quarantine facilities.
“Sabi po ni Testing Czar Vince Dizon ay kumuha na po tayo ng 2,000 hotel rooms para gamitin bilang isolation units. So ngayong nakaisolate na po sila puwede na po natin silang pagalingin at makakatutok na ang ating mga ospital para mapagaling ‘yung mga nagkasakit na malubha or kritikal,” he added.
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