DOH sets up emergency medical tent in Pampanga as floods shut down Macabebe hospital
By Jel Santos
(DOH PHOTO)
As floods shut down hospital access in Macabebe, the Department of Health (DOH) set up an emergency medical tent in Pampanga to sustain life-saving care.
On July 23, the provincial government announced the shutdown of Domingo B. Flores District Hospital in Macabebe town due to continued rising floodwaters.
In response, the DOH-Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team 46 (PEMAT46) deployed a Type 1 Fixed Emergency Medical Facility to accommodate patients from Sto. Tomas, Macabebe, and neighboring towns.
The tent is equipped to function like a fully operational hospital. Services include not just basic outpatient care but also diagnostics, minor surgeries, and inpatient services, all at no cost to patients.
“Kumpleto at libre ang mga gamot, konsultasyon, laboratoryo at diagnostic services, maging ang admission, surgery at iba pang medical operations sa tent (Medicines, consultations, laboratory and diagnostic services, including admission, surgery, and other medical operations at the tent are complete and free),” the agency stated.
Per the DOH, PEMAT46 team is one of only three Emergency Medical Teams in the country verified by the World Health Organization. Its members are trained to operate in crisis zones both within the Philippines and abroad.
Earlier this year, the same team was deployed to Myanmar following a major earthquake.
“Ang emergency facility ng DOH-PEMAT46 ay maaaring magsilbing fully operational na ospital dahil sa mataas na kakayahan ng mga miyembro nito (The emergency facility of DOH-PEMAT46 can serve as a fully operational hospital because of the high capability of its members),” the DOH said.
“Maaari rin silang ideploy sa loob man o labas ng Pilipinas kapag may sakuna (They can also be deployed inside or outside the Philippines in times of disaster),” it added.
On Friday, July 25, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa arrived at the emergency medical tent to see firsthand the condition of patients seeking care after floods shuttered the town’s main hospital.