PGH fire: No patient transfers required
DOH ready to provide needed assistance
In the wake of the fire at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, March 14, that PGH did not need to transfer any patients.

"The DOH remains on standby to provide assistance if needed,” DOH Officer-in-Charge Assistant Secretary and Deputy Spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo said during the interview on the sidelines of the "Stop TB" event, a partnership between DOH and USAID.
He also clarified that the area affected by the fire was not a patient care area but an audio-visual room behind Ward 1.
Despite the unfortunate incident, Domingo expressed gratitude for UP-PGH's effective response.
"Based on our monitoring, PGH is currently on code triage, diverting patients unless it's a severe emergency, and stabilizing the movements of displaced patients," he noted.
Highlighting the readiness of DOH hospitals, Domingo mentioned that DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa instructed the Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) to offer assistance.
"We promptly reached out to our counterparts at PGH and placed all DOH hospitals on standby for potential transfers," he explained.
Meanwhile, Domingo said that initial reports received by the DOH indicated that 40 or 50 patients were evacuated to the PGH lobby.
"While the DOH is prepared to assist, we have confidence in PGH's capability to manage the situation," he said.