Govt reassures Cebu hospital of support

CEBU CITY: Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd reassured officials of Chong Hua Hospital (CHH), one of Cebu City’s major private facilities catering to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients in the Visayas, of continuous support should it reach maximum capacity because of the pandemic.

Duque said in a meeting with CHH officials on Thursday that government facilities in the area, particularly the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center ( VSMMC), are ready to help should CHH reach maximum occupancy capacity.

CHH officials shared with Duque and other Health officials that the hospital was currently operating at 98-percent occupancy rate of its 190-Covid-19 bed capacity, with more than 50 percent of its coronavirus patients in severe and critical condition. Meanwhile, Chong Hua’s non-Covid-19 bed occupancy is at 25 percent of its 420-bed capacity.

“In these difficult times, we should maximize our resources and work together to succeed against our common enemy: the Covid-19,” said Secretary Duque urging private and public hospitals like CHH and VSMMC to work as a network of hospitals that has a definitive referral.

The Department of Health ( DoH) recently ramped up the capacity of VSMMC for coronavirus patients. It has available mechanical ventilators and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen non-invasive ventilation machines used for Covid-19 case intervention.

Currently operating at 40-45 percent occupancy rate, the VSMMC has enough capacity to aid CHH in case it needs support in ensuring coronavirus patients in the city are well-taken care of.

Duque went to Cebu City on Thursday to assist Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu in assessing the Covid- 19 situation in the area. The Health chief was joined by Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, DoH- Central Visayas Center for Health Development Regional Director Jaime Bernadas and VSMMC Medical Center Chief Gerardo Aquino.