ACT As One Partylist eyes legislation increasing government hospitals with ICUs in the countryside

As the end to the pandemic is still nowhere in sight, partylist group ACT As One is pushing for legislation that seeks to upgrade or establish more Level 2 government hospitals in the countryside that are capable of treating severe cases of not only COVID-19, but other illnesses as well.

Atty. Angelo Tapales, third nominee for ACT As One, said the current surge of the Omicron variant cases is proof that the country needs to fortify the medical frontlines especially in areas where health services are scarce or far from reach of citizens.

“Ilang malulungkot na kwento na ang ating narinig tungkol sa mga kababayan nating binawian ng buhay sa daan o sa biyahe patungo sa isang ospital na malayo sa kanyang tirahan? Ang iba ay sa bangka pa nalalagutan ng hininga habang tinatawid ang karagatan para lamang magpa-ospital,” Tapales said.

“Kaya ang aming panawagan sa ACT As One, batas na magdadagdag ng mas maraming pampublikong ospital na may kakayahang lunasan ang mga severe na cases ng COVID at iba pang sakit. Investment na rin ito sa kalusugan ng mga mamamayan at sa pangangalaga sa kapakanan ng maliliit na komunidad sa bansa,” he added.

Hospitals, both public and private, are classified into three levels — Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. Level 1 hospitals are the most basic of this kind of facility: it has no intensive care units (ICU) and can only treat patients who need minor care. Right now, these hospitals cannot care for COVID-19 patients, especially the severe cases.

Level 2 hospitals, on the other hand, do have ICUs that can treat critically ill patients and have physicians for pediatric and gynecology. Level 3 hospitals have everything Levels 1 and 2 possess, with the addition of high-level specialty intervention such as training programs for doctors, rehabilitation and dialysis units, among others.

ACT As One is running under the partylist system of representation this coming May elections. If fortunate enough to secure seats, Tapales said establishing more Level 2 hospitals will be included in their legislative priority.

“Hindi kailangan ng Level 3 na ospital sa kanayunan. Pero kung saan may Level 1 na ospital, sana ma-upgrade sa Level 2. At sa mga lugar na talagang walang ospital, sana magtayo ng pasilidad na mayroong ICU,” Tapales stressed.

DOH data released in 2018 indicate that a total of 783 hospitals, or 64% of all facilities, are Level 1 hospitals. Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals number 318 and 122, respectively, comprising 26% and 10% of all hospitals, also respectively. Though they make up only 36% of all the hospitals in the country, they are bigger and they offer more beds.

Tapales said that the situation is even more appalling in island-provinces that have no or very few Level 2 hospitals.

“Isang halimbawa nito ang isang may severe case ng COVID na galing ng Sulu o Jolo. Kailangan pang tumawid ng dagat ang isang maysakit para madala lang sa Zamboanga City Medical Center at maalagaan ng wasto,” Tapales explained.

“Sa pagtatayo o pag-upgrade ng karagdagang Level 2 na ospital, maiiwasan natin ang ganitong mga kwento. Makakapaghatid ng maayos na serbisyong medikal sa mga mamamayan nang hindi na kailangang bumiyahe ng malayo.”