The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday, Dec. 4, said 5,275 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City are suffering from various chronic illnesses.
Of those ill, BuCor said that 622 PDLs are afflicted with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; 1,051 with diabetes melitus; 2,972 with hypertension; 16 with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and 417 with pulmonary tuberculosis.
As of Dec. 3, it said that 152 PDLs have been admitted in the NBP Hospital and 19 others have been hospitalized outside Bilibid.
Dr. Ursicio Cenas, a BuCor official assigned at the NBP hospital, admitted that Bilibid lacks medical personnel.
Cenas revealed that NBP only has four doctors. “So just imagine the work that I am going to do for the rest of the 24 hours,” he said.
He expressed hopes that the newly constructed medical facility at the Bilibid will open soon. "It will help if we transfer to the new hospital because it has a capacity of about 300 beds and supposed to be fully equipped,” he said.