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PGH says may take up to 4 months to fix fire-hit facility

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/05/17/philippines-fire-pgh.jpg"/><figcaption>Patients of Philippine General Hospital are evacuated after a fire broke past midnight in the government-run facility amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Manila, May 16, 2021. <em>Eloisa Lopez, Reuters/File </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine General Hospital said on Monday it might take up to 4 months to fix the facility that supports its surgeries, which was damaged by a fire that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of patients, including those who suffer from COVID-19. </p><p>The blaze broke out soon after midnight on Sunday at an operating room supply area (ORSA), where instruments are sterilized and equipment is stored. The fire destroyed 5 sterilization units and might have caused structural damage, said PGH Director Dr. Gerardo &quot;Gap&quot; Legaspi.</p><p>&quot;Ang tantiya po namin, mababalik ang normal na operasyon ng ORSA, siguro mga 3 o 4 na buwan po, with the construction considered,&quot; he said in a public briefing. </p><p>&quot;Pero hindi po namin hihintayin iyon para makapag-opera ulit,&quot; said the doctor.</p><p>(We estimate that operations of the ORSA will return to normal in perhaps 3 or 4 months, with the construction considered. But we will not wait for that to do operations again.) <br/> <br/>The PGH, which is the country&#x27;s largest COVID-19 referral facility, is collaborating with other hospitals for adjustments to restart operations on a regular basis, Legaspi said. </p><p>Its surgeries will remain suspended for 1 or 2 more days. It will take around the same time for the PGH <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/17/21/pgh-emergency-room-to-remain-closed-monday-after-fire" target="_blank">emergency room</a> to return to normalcy, he said. </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=1686056" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The fire bureau has yet to determine what caused the fire. The PGH suspects the cause is electrical because staff members said the fire flared from the ceiling, said Legaspi. </p><p>He pegged the cost of damage to equipment at &quot;P50 million upwards.&quot; </p><p>Around 100 patients who were evacuated as smoke rose from the third floor have returned to their designated wards and rooms, PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario said in a separate interview. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/05/17/21/how-this-pgh-nurse-saved-35-newborn-babies-in-weekend-fire">How this PGH nurse saved 35 newborn babies in weekend fire</a></li></ul><p>The PGH is “honored” by the assistance from the public in its “greatest time of need”, said Legaspi. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/16/21/food-water-face-masks-fans-vp-robredo-up-appeal-for-donation-after-pgh-fire">&#x27;Food, water, face masks, fans&#x27;: VP Robredo, UP appeal for donation after PGH fire</a></li></ul><p>The hospital has more than 1,300 beds and treats 600,000 patients a year, it says on its website.</p><p>With more than 1.1 million infections and deaths in excess of 19,000, the Philippines ranks second in Southeast Asia in terms of COVID-19 cases.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/infographic/03/17/20/tracking-covid-19-cases-in-the-philippines">Tracking COVID-19 cases in the Philippines</a></li></ul><div><strong>– With reports from Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News; Reuters</strong></div><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=1687019" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Philippine General Hospital said on Monday it might take up to 4 months to fix the facility that supports its surgeries, which was damaged by a fire that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of patients, including those who suffer from COVID-19. <br /> </p>

The Philippine General Hospital said on Monday it might take up to 4 months to fix the facility that supports its surgeries, which was damaged by a fire that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of patients, including those who suffer from COVID-19.