GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday, August 16, said that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation came out with an advisory clarifying on admissions beyond accredited bed capacity due to dengue outbreak.

In its advisory, Philhealth President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Morales has clarified that the national declaration of a National Dengue Epidemic by Secretary Francisco Duque III shall be sufficient basis as justification for admission beyond accredited bed capacity.

This means private hospitals can now admit dengue patients beyond bed capacity which is good news, Lacson said.

Based on data gathered by the Capitol, from January to July this year, there were a total of 1,884 dengue patients admitted in all 11 hospitals run by the provincial government in Negros Occidental with a total of 547 outpatients.

Hospitals both public and private have been trooped with dengue patients because of high cases all over the country.

Lacson said that he met with the health officials together with selected officials like mayors and councilors and reminded them that dengue is still prevalent and needs the cooperation of the community.

"There's no question that LGUs are now on heightened alert trying to minimize the number of cases," Lacson said.