Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Tuesday said that the Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing coordination with private hospitals to maximize resources for emergency response in case a strong earthquake, like the ‘Big One’ hits the country.
During the presentation of the DOH and several representatives of its hospitals on their contingency plans for an earthquake, Herbosa was asked if the agency is planning to collaborate with private hospitals in providing immediate medical attention for individuals who will be affected by a strong earthquake.
‘Definitely. We need to collaborate with LGU hospitals plus the private hospitals. So tutulong yan,’ Herbosa answered.
‘Remember in our private hospitals, 10% of their beds are charity beds by law,’ Herbosa added.
Under the Republic Act No. 1939, government hospitals are mandated to allot 90% of their bed capacity for free, with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation shouldering the entire medical bill of indigent patients.
Meanwhile, DOH Administrative Order No. 2007-0041 states that private hospitals must allot at least 10% of their bed capacity for charity patients.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology earlier warned that a magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault, could kill more than 33,000 people and cause 168,000 buildings to collapse.
Meanwhile, the DOH identified the hospitals in the four sections of Metro Manila for an efficient and immediate emergency response if the ‘Big One’ earthquake occurs.
The DOH said that their hospitals have passed the Hospital Safety Index.
The following DOH hospitals are:
North
Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital
San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital
Valenzuela Medical Center
East Avenue Medical Center
National Children’s Hospital
Philippine Orthopedic Center
Quirino Memorial Medical Center
Lung Center of the Philippines
National Kidney and Transplant Institute
Philippine Heart Center
Philippine Children’s Medical Center
East
Amang Rodriguez Medical Center
Rizal Medical Center
West
Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
National Center for Mental Health
San Lazaro Hospital
Tondo Medical Center
Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center
South
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center