The number of calls received by the government’s hospital referral center has been “steadily” increasing in recent weeks, Health Undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega said.

As the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Metro Manila soared amid the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant, Vega said the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) has recorded a rise in the number of calls in the past weeks.

“Yung tawag sa One Hospital Command two weeks ago, bumaba na to 90 to 100. Pero steadily tumataas (The calls to One Hospital Command two weeks ago dropped to 90 to 100. But it is now steadily increasing),” Vega said in an interview over DZBB Friday, Aug. 6.

“Last week, umabot kami sa 150 to 170 calls. Itong week na ito, tumataas na sa mga 180 to 200 plus calls na (Last week, we reached 150 to 170 calls. This week, it is rising to about 180 to 200 plus calls),” he added.

The OHCC was established last year by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force to ensure an efficient health facility referral system in Metro Manila.

The health official recalled that the OHCC logged around 450 to 500 calls per day during the second surge of infections in the months of March, April and May.

“Kaya na overstrain din kami doon or talagang na overwhelm kaya nag increase kami ng personnel (We were really overwhelmed so we increased the number of our personnel),” Vega said.

To accommodate the increasing number of calls, the OHCC hired additional 110 personnel as phone receivers and medical coordinators, as well as installed more telephone lines, he said.

Vega urged those seeking available medical facilities to contact the OHCC through its hotline 1555. They may also contact 0919-977-3333, 0915-777-7777, and (02)886-505-00.