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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Doc Willie Ong reiterates need for infectious disease hospitals amid new Covid-19 surge in Asia

Doc Willie Ong reiterates need for infectious disease hospitals amid new Covid-19 surge in Asia

Published Mar 20, 2022 08:19 pm

Vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong reiterated anew the need for the creation of infectious disease hospitals in the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

PHOTO BY NOEL PABALETE/ MANILA BULLETIN

With Covid-19 cases surging in Asian countries again, Ong noted the importance of building more hospitals, securing medicines, free testing, and support for healthcare workers and mental health.


 “Sa Asya ngayon nag-susurge ulit ang Covid... May malaking posibilidad aabot parin yan sa Pilipinas (In Asia today, Covid is surging again... There is a big possibility that it will still reach the Philippines),” Ong said during the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) PiliPinas Debate 2022 on Sunday, March 20.

“Marami tayong pwedeng gawin. Dapat magtayo tayo ng infectious disease hospital. Dito natin ilalagay ang mga pandemic cases. Hindi pwede sa PGH lang kasi makakakawawa ‘yung ibang pasyente (We have a lot to do. We must build an infectious disease hospital. Here we will place the pandemic cases. PGH alone is not possible because other patients will be miserable), said Ong, citing the progress of the health sector that had been done in the City of Manila.


 The cardiologist pointed out that hospitals dedicated to infectious disease will allow existing hospitals to serve patients who have other major ailments. 
 Aside from the COVID-19, Ong stressed that the country should also speed up treatment of other diseases.


 He also noted that prices of medicines in the Philippines are too high compared to other countries.


 “Isa pang problema ‘yung napakamahal ng gamot natin sa Pilipinas, may mga gamot tayo ten times more expensive kumpara sa ibang bansa. Kung hindi natin maipabababa ‘yung presyo, mahihirapan tayo (Another problem is that medicine in the Philippines is very expensive, we have medicines that are ten times more expensive compared to other countries. If we can't lower the price, we will have a hard time),” he stressed.


 Ong has been repeatedly pushing the government to create an infectious disease hospital, children’s hospital, and Cancer Center of the Philippines.

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