ILOILO – Anticipating a surge in infections, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. ordered provincial government-run hospitals to expand their bed capacity for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases to 70 percent.
District hospitals and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) have 813 authorized beds, data from the Hospital Management Office (HMO) of the provincial government showed.
“The HMO should continue to develop and adjust hospital facilities,” according to Defensor, because the elevated COVID-19 bed capacity of the hospitals would necessitate the hiring of more doctors, nurses and such other hospital personnel, and the procurement of more medical equipment and supplies.
The governor also ordered a heightened coordination between the province, Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) and Western Visayas Sanitarium (WVS).
In an executive order, Defensor stipulated the following:
* maximize referral of non-COVID-19 patients who can be treated by the IPH and district hospitals from the WVMC and WVSUMC to capacitate the latter Department of Health (DOH) tertiary hospitals for 50 percent to 70 percent COVID-19 bed capacity, by continued and increased deployment of medical specialist and other healthcare workers to the said hospitals of the province;
* the province shall continue to support the WVMC, WVSUMC and WVS in terms of medical facilities, personnel, equipment and supplies for any increase to 50 percent to 70 percent COVID-19 bed capacity to further enhance their capacity to treat severe/critical COVID-19 patients;
* the province shall collaborate with private sector partners and private hospitals to escalate the COVID-19 response of the health care system of the region
Defensor also ordered the establishment of COVID-19 critical care units in several capitol-run hospitals that include the IPH and Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District Hospital in Lambunao town for treatment of severe/critical COVID-19 patients.
In establishing these critical care units, Defensor said there should be enough health personnel, equipment and supply requirements.
“This is still part of our development in our Level 1 hospitals, and also an emergency response in anticipation of possible effect of the Delta variant,” said Defensor.
Accommodation establishments are also being developed as step-down facilities for COVID-19 patients to decongest the tertiary hospitals so they can concentrate on severe or critical patients from other provinces.
“We will provide ambulance, personnel, equipment, and supply,” Defensor added.
According to Defensor, the provincial government is also consistent in giving support to the surge response requirements of the municipal and city health offices in terms of healthcare personnel, facilities, equipment and supplies./PN
