ILOILO CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) is recommending for additional COVID-19 beds at hospitals in both the city and province of Iloilo, which experienced a surge of cases since late May.
DOH Usec. Leopoldo Vega particularly noted that Iloilo’s problem is the health care utilization rate (HCUR).
Vega was with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in Iloilo City Thursday after the turnover of 50,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines and other medical aid.
Vega particularly noted that hospitals in Iloilo City, which is the regional capital of Western Visayas, are already beyond capacity.
Hospitals in Iloilo City are where many severe medical cases are being referred to from residents of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo provinces.
Vega and DOH-6 Regional Director Adriano Suba-an met with management of both public and private hospitals in Iloilo to give technical support as a means of boosting response mechanisms in handling COVID-19 cases, especially the severe cases.
Vega particularly urged the DOH-run Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City and the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara town in Iloilo province to increase its bed capacities for COVID-19 patients.
The DOH is also looking into augmenting health personnel and other needs of hospital.
As of July 1, there are 2,283 active COVID-19 cases in Iloilo City and 2,617 active cases in Iloilo province.