ILOILO – Patients are not required to present a negative result of their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test to access health facilities, according to the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6.
“Indi ‘ni sia mandatory in terms of assisting our clients. Indi sia mangin reason to refuse our clients,” said Dr. Mary Ann Millamena-Matillano, head of family health and nutrition section of DOH-6.
However, she clarified, the “no negative RT-PCR result, no access” policy would still be upon the discretion of the health facility.
If a patient is pregnant, on dialysis, immuno-compromised, undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy or elective surgical procedures, had organ, bone marrow or stem cells transplant in the past six months, he or she “shall be tested upon discretion of the attending physicians,” said Matillano, citing DOH’s Memorandum 2020-0258-A issued on July 6, 2020.
Meanwhile, if a patient is about to be admitted in an enclosed institution such as jail or mental institution, Matillano emphasized that negative RT-PCR result is mandatory.
What if a pregnant mother is about to give birth but the hospital requires a negative RT-PCR test result?
Matillano said the hospital should, as much as possible, cater to the patient, and only require the RT-PCR test after labor.
However, according to Matillano, it is possible that health facilities have other reasons for refusing clients especially expectant mothers.
“There are limitations man sa facility…. Ang availability sang aton beds… Sometimes naka-lockdown man sila sang ila units, particularly sa aton delivery room, operating room and COVID-19 wards,” she pointed out.
Clients should also understand if a health facility enforces a “no RT-PCR test, no access” policy as they do not want to risk or expose other patients.
Moreover, Matillano said a health facility should properly explain to patients why they could not be accommodated to avoid misunderstanding.
Matillano said DOH has regular meetings with health facilities and local government units as they find ways to resolve the matter. Expanding bed capacities were considered so as to prevent patients from being displaced.
Earlier, a concerned citizen in Pavia, Iloilo alleged they were not received by the Western Visayas Sanitarium (WVS) in Santa Barbara, Iloilo when it was discovered that the wife was positive for COVID-19 when she was scheduled to give birth.
Dr. Ronar Silao, head of WVS’s COVID-19 Response Team, said the patient was not accommodated because of their limited bed capacity and manpower./PN