DOH eyes additional 240 ICU beds in NCR amid Delta variant threat

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is looking at opening 240 additional intensive care unit (ICU) beds in some hospitals in Metro Manila this August as the government braces for a possible surge of COVID-19 Delta variant cases.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday that the additional ICU beds are located at the Lung Center of the Philippines, East Avenue Medical Center, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, and the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong.

“May additional tayong na tinitingnan na around 240 na additional ICU beds in select hospitals in Metro Manila. Itong mga ito ay magbubukas at magiging operational this month,” she told an online media briefing.

(We are looking at opening around 240 additional ICU beds in select hospitals in Metro Manila. These will be operational this month.)

According to Vergeire, the DOH has also added 755 ICU beds and 332 isolation beds in Luzon, 210 ICU beds and 314 isolation beds in Visayas, 190 ICU beds, and 306 isolation beds Mindanao.

The national healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) is currently at 50 percent, but Vergeire said a closer look at data shows that HCUR is already increasing in Metro Manila and other areas.

“Sa ngayon, ating patuloy na pinag-iigihan na maexpand ang facilities natin dahil alam natin na kailangang continuous ang preparation. Humahanap pa rin tayo ng ibang paraan to continuously expand the capacity of our hospitals,” she said.

(Right now, we continue to intensify the expansion of facilities because we know that our preparation should be continuous. We are still looking for ways to expand the capacity of our hospitals.)

“Aside from that, we are prepositioning medications, oxygen supplies, procurement of other needed logistics and we are preparing additional space and tents for our hospitals,” Vergeire added.

The country has 63,646 active cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday.

The DOH has so far confirmed 216 cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19, including 165 that were detected locally. Vergeire says the DOH assumes that there is already community transmission of the variant, but still cited the need for evidence to confirm such.

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