DOH readies hospitals for El Niño patient surge

DOH Assistant Secretary Tagumpay Maniquis said the agency has a surge plan that allows hospitals to deploy additional staff when needed.

THE STAR / Miguel De Guzman

MANILA, Philippines — In anticipation of an influx of patients due to an intensified El Niño, the Department of Health is preparing to temporarily assign hospital personnel from other departments to provide medical attention to patients suffering from heat-related illnesses.

DOH Assistant Secretary Tagumpay Maniquis said the agency has a surge plan that allows hospitals to deploy additional staff when needed.

“We have a surge plan for this. There are hospital personnel we can assign for this kind of situation,” Maniquis said. “If early on, we can see the trend, we can activate the surge plan.”

Maniquis said the DOH is also monitoring other illnesses that may be triggered by heat aside from heat exhaustion and heat stroke, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The DOH earlier announced plans to establish dedicated fast lanes in hospital emergency rooms for patients with heat-related illnesses as El Niño intensifies.

Hospitals have also been instructed to prepare for an increase in emergency room consultations and activate the special lanes when necessary.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment said workers who sustain heat-related injuries while on duty may claim compensation through the Employees’ Compensation Commission.