PGH reopens doors to COVID-19 patients after fire
MANILA, Philippines — The state-owned Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Monday announced that it would again admit coronavirus cases even after a fire that hit one of its buildings forced the transfer of patients and newborns, and suspension of delicate surgical operations.
“By [Tuesday], we will resume accepting COVID-19 patients to [the] PGH. So there’s not much change, except for the one day that we would need to prepare,” Dr. Gerardo Gap Legaspi, hospital director, said in a Malacañang-led briefing.
“We stand committed to our role as a COVID-19 referral center,” he said.
No casualties were reported in Sunday’s fire at the eight-story building for paying patients. Legaspi placed damage to property, including medical equipment, at P50 million.
The incident ignited calls for donors to help PGH, which has been serving thousands of indigent patients.
What was greatly affected was PGH’s surgical procedures, such as brain and heart surgeries, Legaspi said. “We have to stop these completely for maybe one or two days,” he said.
Surgery losses
Badly hit was the Operating Room Supply and Autoclave (Orsa) Room, where surgical instruments are sterilized and supplies are stored. The rest of the operating complex was spared from the blaze but was swept by thick smoke.
A total of five sterilization units were destroyed although the hospital still has other units, Legaspi said. “This will severely affect us,” he added.
While Orsa’s operations could be back to normal in three to four months, “we will not wait for this to resume surgeries,” the PGH director said. He cited collaborations with other hospitals and adjustments within the PGH system for the resumption of regular schedule of surgeries.
The hospital has designated two areas to house sterilizing equipment and plans to purchase new equipment for emergency use to hurdle government procurement procedures.
Back to wards
Of some 30 newborns evacuated from the hospital due to the thick smoke, Legaspi said 10 were transferred to Sta. Ana Hospital due to their delicate condition while the rest had returned to the pediatric wards.
Some 30 COVID-19 patients who were also moved had since returned to their wards, he added.
President Duterte may help in the repair of PGH by tapping the Presidential Social Fund, according to his spokesperson, Harry Roque. The hospital, Legaspi said, had been getting P25 million a month from Malacañang for its patients.
Roque said the Department of Public Works and Highways would handle the repair of the hospital as its “top priority.”
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas on Monday said she wanted to realign part of the P1-trillion fund of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program for the PGH repairs.
Budget realignments
The House assistant minority leader said provisions in the P405.6-billion Bayanihan 3 bill could include budget realignments for PGH. The measure is pending before the House appropriations committee.
Another party list lawmaker has urged the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Finance and other government agencies to immediately extend financial, personnel, infrastructure and supply assistance to PGH.
In filing House Resolution No. 1767, Senior Citizens Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes pointed out that the government hospital “is now in grave need of financial, personnel, infrastructure, equipment, medical supplies, and other kinds of assistance such as industrial fans, oxygen tanks, water, food and face masks to resume operation and fully render its services.”
