DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio warned private hospitals against accepting patients who are under investigation (PUI) for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The mayor earlier issued Executive Order 20-A, prohibiting private hospitals from accepting Covid-19 PUIs and positive patients. Only the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is allowed to accept these patients.
This was done to further contain the virus and for easier detection and monitoring.
“We set the rules on the private hospitals to protect the health services sector,” Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on Thursday, March 26.
She also warned against the alleged special treatments of four individuals in these private hospitals.
“Do not provide special treatment for a few individuals against the safety of the entire staff and personnel of your hospital,” she said.
She said she sent two informants inside a private hospital to monitor following the reports of alleged special treatment of the PUI patients. She is still verifying these reports.
If it would be proven that they violate the protocol of the Department of Health, erring hospitals will be designated as Covid-19 hospitals already.
Once declared as a Covid-19 designated hospital, they are no longer allowed to cater to non-Covid-related patients.
Meanwhile, she reminded suspected PUI patients to refrain from admitting themselves in private hospitals so as not to further spread the virus.
“Dunay mga PUIs nga ga-insist nga magstay sa mga [private] hospitals. As a PUI nga dili pa sigurado nga Covid-19 ka pero you exhibited symptoms of Covid-19, mas better off ka diraa sa mga centers (Some PUIs are insisting of admitting themselves in private hospitals. As a PUI, who is still not yet confirmed to be positive but exhibits symptoms, you are better off to stay in our designated centers),” Duterte-Carpio said.
Currently, the city has identified the Rehabilitation Center Building and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines sites in Malagos and the Alternative Learning (ALS) Building in downtown as quarantine areas for PUIs showing mild symptoms of the virus.
Recently, private lodges such as La Vida Inn and Queensland Hotel already pledged to convert their rooms into PUI centers.
Duterte-Carpio had also asked other private hospitals to admit indigent patients to decongest SPMC, which is the only Covid-accredited center in Davao City. (RGL)