Go backs pop-up hospitals
DPWH adding to 635 facilities already constructed.
With coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases continuing to rise, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go lauded government’s efforts to build more “pop-up” or modular hospitals.
“We must always be ready. We do not want to see patients in the throes of death. That’s why it’s very important what the government is doing,” Go said. “We must do everything to save lives.”
Go issued the statement even as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Friday the plan to construct temporary treatment and monitoring facilities for Covid-19 patients throughout Metro Manila.
Major hospitals, like the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, have already commenced expansion works using prefabricated materials allowing for faster construction.
Also being planned is a mega-modular hospital to serve as an annex of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City.
The DPWH also proposed the construction of off-site dormitories that will serve as temporary shelters for medical frontliners serving at NCMH.
The chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go inspected the 110-bed Department of Health-Quezon Institute (DoH-QI) Off-Site Modular Hospital in Quezon City during its blessing and turnover early in April.
The unit is actually an extension of the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center located at the QI compound.
“Let’s add more of these facilities so we can save the lives of our fellow Filipinos. Let’s not allow anyone to die because they could not find a facility that will take them in for treatment,” Go said.
Meanwhile, Go also applauded medical frontliners all over the country for their untiring service and sacrifice, especially amid the ongoing pandemic.
The DPWH has so far completed 635 Covid-19-related health facilities nationwide, 139 of which were built in the National Capital Region.