DUE to the influx of non-COVID-19 patients in the past week, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) was prompted to open up its gymnasium to cater to the number of dialysis patients four times over its emergency room capacity.

NKTI Deputy Executive Director for Hospital Support Services Dr. Joseph Jaro noted that their emergency room could only hold up to 40 patients but recently saw the number of admissions increase to 158.

“Pagdating sa kapasidad ng ospital na ‘to, sobra-sobra ang pasyente. Nung nakaraang tatlong araw lang ngayong nakaraang linggo, ang emergency room na kapasidad lang ay 40 pero umabot kami ng 158 patients sa loob ng isang emergency room,” Jaro said

“Mahirap. May mga kama kami sa hallway, wheelchairs. ‘Yung nahihirapan masyado, nakakama siyempre, pero marami sa mga pasyente ang naka-wheelchair,” he added.

Due to this situation, Jaro said they had to reopen NKTI’s gymnasium and transfer at least 20 patients there to cater to their medical needs.

He also stressed that most of these 158 patients were dialysis patients, and only eight of them were infected with COVID-19 and were already transferred to their COVID-19 unit.

The hospital official opined that with the National Capital Region (NCR) no longer at high risk for COVID-19, people are now less fearful of seeking medical treatment in hospitals hence the high volume of patients.

“Feeling namin kasi, ito ay mga pasyente na nagtitiis dahil nga nung kasagsagan ng Covid ay ayaw lumabas ng bahay siyempre sa takot na magka-Covid. Tandaan natin ang mga dialysis patients are very high morbidity patients. Sila ‘yung diabetic, hypertensive,” he said.

Jaro noted that only 55 patients remain in NKTI’s emergency room after seeking help from other hospitals and discharging other patients.

Several hospitals in Metro Manila, such as the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, have also reported a filling up of non-COVID-19 patients in their respective emergency rooms in the past days.

Further, the Jaro called on registered nurses to apply in a government hospital such as NKTI as they currently need 90 nurses to work immediately.

“Inaanyayahan namin kayong mga nurses, pumunta na kayo dito sa Kidney Institute. Maganda ang salary sa gobyerno at meron kayong career path kayo dito,” he said.

The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) earlier said the incoming Marcos administration should look into implementing the proposed Philippine Nursing Act, which would equalize the pay of nurses in public and private hospitals, considering the increasing number of Filipino healthcare workers heading overseas for higher wages.