The Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital clarified on Sunday, August 15, that there were no medical lockdown threats in the hospital.
The hospital management made the clarification after a media outlet uploaded photos of medical workers outside of the facility and titled the post: “DOH under siege as health workers threaten medical lockdown.” “Health workers are seen outside the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital at the Luneta Grandstand, on Aug. 14, 2021. They have threatened to go on 'medical lockdown' over low salaries and lack of benefits," read the previous caption of the post uploaded on Facebook on Saturday, August 14.
The caption has been edited as of writing.
Dr. Arlene Raule-Dominguez, OIC Medical Director of Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital, said the medical workers in the photos were not their staff.
Dominguez, meanwhile, said the photos with their facility and ambulance were the actual process of accepting transfers from other hospitals.
"The Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital Medical Team remains steadfast in its commitment to the people to help fight this war against the COVID-19 pandemic. We have no time to be involved in politics because we want our precious time entirely offered for the medical care of our patients," she added.
The hospital also stressed that the public should not allow for any politicking at the expense of hardworking people and the spreading of fake news, which only aggravate people’s anxiety, especially in these trying times.
"We condemn any efforts to malign the reputation of the medical professionals of our hospital and demeaning the sacrifices of each of us through irresponsible and false reporting. We are just happy to help and serve our patients," it added.
The management, meanwhile, thanked the City Government of the Manila, through the leadership of Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso, for its continued support.