The Department of Health's (DOH) Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) assisted the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) in transferring patients to various DOH hospitals in Metro Manila, after a fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon, March 13.
In response to the emergency, the DOH said all of its Metro Manila hospitals have been alerted and are fully prepared to receive patients transferred from UP-PGH.
UP-PGH reported that the fire was “under control” around 4 p.m., “although patients and doctors remain in the evacuation area within the [hospital's] parking lots.”
It also informed DOH that they are able to manage their patients in the remaining unaffected wards and rooms.
In observance of the Fire Prevention Month, the DOH said it is taking proactive steps to improve safety protocols across all facilities by directing its hospitals to review their fire evacuation plans and conduct thorough risk assessments in order to prevent fires on their premises.