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Palace denies PH missed chance to get 200 ICU beds amid COVID-19 surge

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Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/04/27/20210426-covid-hospital-nkti-rtr_1.jpg"/><figcaption>Patients, seated beside their guardians, are treated on wheelchairs at a makeshift extension of the COVID-19 Emergency Room at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute on April 26, 2021 in Quezon City, which has declared overcapacity following a surge of COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila. <em>Eloisa Lopez, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday denied a report that the Philippines lost its chance to acquire 200 beds for intensive care units, the utilization of which spiked as COVID-19 cases surged. </p><p>The alleged bungled deal with an Austrian firm for the &quot;deliver-now-pay-later&quot; ICU beds caused a shouting session in a Cabinet meeting where Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was allegedly rebuked, according to an Inquirer report quoting sources. </p><p>&quot;Wala pong katotohanan &#x27;to,&quot; said Palace spokesman Harry Roque. </p><p>(There is no truth to this.)</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1672694" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video courtesy of PTV</em></div><p>The deal covers 200 hospital beds, including only 15 ICU beds, he said in a press briefing. </p><p>&quot;Wala pong shouting match kasi ang talagang kinakailangan ng Pilipinas ngayon ay ICU beds, at patuloy po ang pag-uusap sa pamumuno po ni Secretary Duque para dito sa additional 200 ICU beds, and the same proponent po na Austrian company is involved,&quot; Roque said. </p><p>(There was no shouting match because what the Philippines needs are ICU beds, and negotiations led by Secretary Duque are ongoing for these 200 ICU beds.)</p><p>The Austrian firm is expected to submit a proposal on this next week because authorities have identified where the ICU beds are needed, he said. </p><p>The Philippines has confirmed 1,006,428 COVID-19 infections, of which 74,623 were active as of Monday. </p><p>In Metro Manila, home to some 12 million people, about 71 percent of ICU beds were occupied as of April 25. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/12/21/galvez-says-at-least-600-more-icu-beds-needed-in-ncr-amid-covid-19-surge">Galvez says at least 600 more ICU beds needed in NCR amid COVID-19 surge</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/22/21/metro-manila-icu-covid-utilization">Gov&#x27;t eyes lowering ICU utilization in Metro Manila by 10 pct</a></li></ul>

<p>Malacañang on Tuesday denied that a report that the Philippines lost its chance to acquire 200 beds for intensive care units, the utilization of which spiked as COVID-19 cases surged. <br /> </p>

Malacañang on Tuesday denied that a report that the Philippines lost its chance to acquire 200 beds for intensive care units, the utilization of which spiked as COVID-19 cases surged.

Palace denies PH missed chance to get 200 ICU beds amid COVID-19 surge

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Palace denies PH missed chance to get 200 ICU beds amid COVID-19 surge

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 27, 2021 04:18 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 27, 2021 04:20 PM PHT

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