Kawit, Cavite Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo, slammed a private hospital built in his municipality for allegedly refusing to admit a suspected COVID-19 patient.
In a Facebook post, Aguinaldo expressed his frustrations towards San Pedro Calungsod Medical Center (SPCMC) in Kawit, telling them that he doesn’t believe the hospital management’s reason that they refused the patient because they already reached their maximum capacity.
According to him, the Department of Health (DOH) already ordered all hospitals to prepare and reserve rooms for future COVID-19 patients; that’s why he’s questioning the honesty of the SPCMC.
He also mentioned that the patient was told by the hospital management that they need confirmation from the SPCMC President before admitting them.
“Kawit ay nagsisikap para masigurong ligtas ang ating bayan. Ngayong araw, isang ospital sa Kawit ang tumangging mag-confine sa dalawang pasyenteng nakikitaan ng sintomas ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Dalawang oras na naghintay si Dra. Pulido kasama ng mga medical staff ng Kawit RHU sa San Pedro Calungsod Medical Center, Inc. (SPCMC) para ma-process ang admission ng dalawang pasyente at nang mabigyan ng mas maayos na atensyon. Gusto sana nating mai-admit sila sa mas malaking ospital na may quarantine facility. Ngunit, tinanggihan pa rin nila ito,” Aguinaldo said.
“Hindi ako sold sa sinabi nilang “walang kwarto”. Dahil sa idineklarang State of Public Health Emergency, dapat ay may nakalaan na silang kwarto para sa ganitong mga kaso alinsunod na rin sa utos ng Department of Health para sa mga pasyenteng nagpapakita ng sintomas ng COVID-19.” he added.
“Sinabi rin ng naka-duty na doctor na pupunta ang kanilang presidente para magdesisyon. Edi, mayroon ngang bakante ngunit ayaw nilang ipagamit sa kasama naming pasyente. ANO BA TALAGA? Dagdag pa rito, ang pag-refuse na mag-confine po ng mga ospital na nasa Level 2 at Level 3 accreditation ng Philhealth ay isa pong paglabag sa pinirmahan nilang Performance Commitment. Karapatan ng ating mga kababayan na mai-admit sa ospital na may maayos na facility,” he also said.
Aguinaldo was saddened that a hospital built in his municipality was not cooperating with the government.
He also shared that he went personally to the hospital to plead to the management to accept the COVID-19 patient, but they still fail to convince the hospital.
“Bilang alkalde, ako ay nanlulumo sa ganitong pagtrato sa ating mga kababayan. Paano po ba natin masosolusyonan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa ating bayan, kung hindi po nakikipagtulungan ang ilan sa mga ospital sa ating bayan gaya ng San Pedro Calungsod Medical Center?” the Mayor said.
“Hindi ko po maatim na habang ang pasyenteng may sakit at nanghihina, walang atensyong medikal ang naibibigay. Sa dalawang oras na pakikiusap ni Dra. Claudette, walang pusong tinanggihan pa rin ito. At kahit na ako na mismo ang pumunta para makiusap na makipagtulungan, ay wala man lang aksyon at para bang itinataboy pa kami.” he added.
He then urged the people of Kawit to report any hospital that going to refuse suspected COVID-19 carriers.
Before he ended his post, Aguinaldo also said that someone should be held liable for the incident.
“HINDI PO ITO TAMA! AT KAILANGANG MAY MANAGOT SA PANGYAYARING ITO,” he said.
The Department of Health (DOH) repeatedly reminded the public that no hospitals can refuse people showing COVID-19 symptoms.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that hospitals might be stripped of a license to operate if they have proven to refuse patients.