17 retained hospitals in Metro Manila operational

MANILA, Philippines — All 17 government-retained hospitals in Metro Manila are operational, the Department of Health (DOH) assured the public yesterday, although some have temporarily suspended their out-patient clinics.

The DOH issued the statement to counter reports that several government hospitals had closed due to an increasing number of infected health care workers (HCWs) among the staff.

However, it admitted that some of the hospitals have suspended “elective surgeries and out-patient department (OPD) operations to ensure that the most critical services continue while HCWs recover from COVID-19.”

“Individual hospital infection control units have started hospital-level investigations to find sources of infection and contain further spread,” the DOH said.

The infected HCWs, on the other hand, are being provided with support by facilitating hospital or isolation facility admission.

But with the observed high hospital admissions coupled with increasing cases among frontliners, the DOH called on the remaining HCWs to get their COVID-19 vaccination “as soon as possible.”

“The public is also called on to utilize teleconsultations for non-urgent medical needs to avoid overcrowding in hospitals and ensure that all critical patient needs are attended to,” it added.