NCR Plus hospitals commit to adding 176 ICU beds for COVID patients – official

MANILA, Philippines — Hospitals in the so-called NCR Plus have committed to allocating 176 more intensive care unit (ICU) beds and over 1,000 ward beds for COVID-19 patients, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 deputy implementer Vince Dizon said Thursday.

“Nag-commit din po ang ating mga ospital ng 176 ICU beds dito sa NCR Plus at mahigit isanlibong ward beds,” Dizon said in an online Palace briefing.

(Hospitals have committed 176 ICU beds in NCR Plus and over 1,000 ward beds.)

Dizon said that the public and private hospitals informed them of this during the NTF’s meeting with PhilHealth and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega.

Dizon said that with the additional ICU beds, the NCR Plus’ healthcare ICU utilization rate could drop to “roughly about 70 plus percent.”

National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 deputy implementer Vince Dizon: Hospitals are contributing 176 ICU beds and over 1,000 ward beds.

Dizon also said the additional 176 beds might be ready by May.

“Iyon po ang ating target at nagpapasalamat tayo sa iba’t ibang mga ospital natin kasama na ang mga pribadong ospital sa kanilang commitment,” Dizon said.

(That’s our target, and we thank the different hospitals, even the private ones, for their support.)

“Pero kailangan maintindihan din po ng ating mga kababayan na hindi naman po ganoon kadali na gumawa ng isang ICU facility o ICU bed. Hindi lang po iyan dagdag ng kama dahil kailangan po niyan, ang pinakaimportante ay iyong dagdag po ng mga skilled healthcare workers sa ICU.

(But we need to understand that it’s not that easy to set up an ICU facility or an ICU bed. It’s not just that beds are needed but, most importantly, skilled healthcare workers.)

Dizon said the Department of Health would help hospitals hire more staff.

abc

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