Robredo: LGUs, private sector may offer mobile labs to help decongest hospitals

FILE PHOTO: This photo shows the Office of Vice President’s one of several initiatives in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. Vice President Leni Robredo says on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, that her office started Swab Cab in a bid to support the local governments in conducting efficient community-based testing amid the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila. OVP Photo

MANILA, Philippines — To help decongest hospitals in Metro Manila, Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday urged local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to replicate her office’s “very doable” mobile laboratory.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said it stationed a van equipped with machines to carry out X-Ray and blood tests in Quezon City in an attempt to make such hospital services more accessible to communities.

“Kung marami sanang sumubok nitong gawin, tingin ko makakatulong talaga siya para mas kaunti na ‘yung taong pumupunta sa ospital,” said Robredo during the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Facebook live.

(If many tried to do this, I think it would really help lessen the number of people going to hospitals.)

She also believes that this initiative could help reduce the transmission of virus in medical facilities.

“Kasi minsan magpapa-X-Ray lang ‘yung lines napakatagal, napakatagal ng inilalagi sa ospital,” said Robredo.

(Because sometimes people wait in long lines just to have an X-ray test, which makes them stay in hospitals for too long.)

According to Robredo, the mobile lab was in support of the OVP’s Bayanihan E-Konsulta. She said businesses can replicate it by offering the same services to its employees at least once a week, or once every two weeks.

READ: OVP’s ‘E-Konsulta’ allow for safe, convenient medical queries, hospital search

“‘Yung mga pasyente pong andito ngayon, ‘yun ‘yung sinasabi nila. Na sobrang laking ginhawa sa kanila, hindi na sila kailangan pumunta sa hospital,” noted Robredo.

(The patients here now, that’s what they say. That it was a great relief to them, they no longer need to go to the hospital.)

KGA