R1MC to remain as hospital of the poor — Dr. Gazmen
THE Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City assured that it will continue to cater to poor patients including those turned away by private hospitals during the pandemic.
This was assured by Dr. Arnel Gazmen, chief of clinics of R1MC, as he revealed that the hospital continues to serve poor patients or those who cannot afford hospitalization in private hospital.
He told the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dagupan that they have 70 plus COVID-19 patients who are symptomatic and are in moderate and severe affliction and went on to thank private hospitals in the city for also doing the same.
Some or all of the patients, he said, are covered by the Malasakit Center and so will go home after treatment with no cash out from their pockets, Gazmen added.
Gazmen revealed R1MC allocated 120 beds for COVID-19 patients but these beds are located in two sites—at R1MC Main on Arellano Street and at R1MC annex in Barangay Bonuan. Binloc.
He said the R1MC annex in Bonuan Binloc caters to positive asymptomatic cases that do not require oxygen support but are transferred to R1MC main if they require access to oxygen.
At the moment, two buildings are under construction at R1MC annex in Bonuan Binloc that will soon house additional beds for COVID-19 patients. Set for completion by the middle part of this year, the two new buildings will increase COVID-19 beds at R1MC to 250 and may be up to 300.
On the other hand, the Dagupan Villaflor Doctors Hospital has allocated 20 percent of its bed capacity to COVID-19 patients, plus another 10 percent for its staff and personnel who may get infected by their patients, said Dr. Jovie Villaflor, a DVMH top official.
Dr. Edmundo Exconde, new hospital director at Nazareth General Hospital, said his hospital has allotted 15 beds, all on the ground floor for COVID patients.
Dr. Maximo Escano of the Medical City formerly the Pangasinan Medical Center, told the SP that as much as possible they want to offer all beds of COVID patients but they are hampered by lack of personnel especially nurses.
According to Dr. Ophelia Rivera, COVID-19 focal persons in Dagupan City, other hospitals in the city catering to COVID-19 patients are Luzon Medical Center, Trauma Hospital and Decena Hospital. (Leonardo Micua)
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