Jamaine Punzalan

The East Avenue Medical Center, one of the Hospitals in Quezon City on April 3, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABs-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175444751147520200403-east-avenue-medical-quezon-city-JC-3978-s.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The East Avenue Medical Center, one of the Hospitals in Quezon City on April 3, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABs-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The emergency room of East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) operated above its authorized bed capacity this week, its administration said Wednesday. </p><p>The hospital’s ER reached 138 percent occupancy on Tuesday morning, August 5.</p><p>Hospital officials said the recent pronouncement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on zero balance billing in Department of Health hospitals and the rainy season’s toll on public health could have caused the spike in the number of patients.</p><p>“As of 7 a.m. this morning, iyong aming total patients sa loob ng aming emergency department ay 207. Ang aming authorized capacity sa emergency department is 150. So that is 138 percent noong aming bed capacity ng emergency department,” EAMC spokesperson Dr. John Paul Ner told ABS-CBN News on Tuesday.</p><p>Despite the overcrowding, Ner assured the public that EAMC continues to implement a no-refusal policy.</p><p>Ner added that EAMC employs a triage system to efficiently manage the ER’s operations.</p><p>“Lahat naman ng pasyente na pumupunta sa aming emergency department, may titingin na doktor para i-assess kung pang-emergency department care ba ang kailangan nila or baka pwede po sila sa aming ibang clinics or offices,” he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/8/5/alamin-mga-doh-hospitals-na-may-zero-balance-billing-0922">ALAMIN: Mga DOH hospitals na may zero balance billing</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RISE IN LEPTOSPIROSIS CASES AMID FLOODS</strong></div><div> </div><p>Coinciding with the recent rains and widespread flooding in Metro Manila, leptospirosis cases at EAMC have significantly increased.</p><p>“Simula noong July, we already had seen 63 leptospirosis cases. Currently, we have a total of 49 currently admitted na mga leptospirosis cases dito,” Ner said.</p><p>He noted that the hospital has not recorded any deaths due to leptospirosis so far this year, but there are severe cases requiring dialysis.</p><p>The hospital remains well-equipped to handle these cases, Ner said. </p><p>“Meron po kaming 40 dialysis unit. Meron pong 24/7 na mga staff sa dialysis unit. Tapos iyong mga kagamitan, mga swero, gamot, well-stocked pa po kami dito sa East Avenue Medical Center,” he said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>OPERATING BEYOND LIMITS</strong></div><div> </div><p>EAMC, with an authorized bed capacity of 1,000, is now caring for more than 1,290 patients. Ner acknowledged the operational challenges this posed.</p><p>“We&#x27;re operating beyond our bed capacity. Mas marami kasi iyong patient mo, mas marami kang babantayan. Siyempre, kahit papano, maapektuhan din iyong quality of care sa each patient,” he said. </p><p>He added that long waiting times for ward admissions have become a reality.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ZERO BALANCE BILLING AND PATIENT INFLUX</strong></div><div> </div><p>Ner cautiously noted that the surge in patient numbers could be partly linked to the zero-balance billing directive.</p><p>“Hindi namin kasi masasabi kung directly related ba iyong statement na zero balance billing, doon sa aming nakikita na dami ng pasyente. Pwedeng partly because of that. Pero definitely, we saw na medyo dumami iyong number of patients na nakikita namin daily,” he said.</p><p>The <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/pgh-er-operating-in-overcapacity-public-urged-to-find-other-hospitals-1820">Philippine General Hospital </a>this week also began limiting ER admissions due to overcapacity. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/8/5/increase-in-emergency-cases-seasonal-says-private-hospitals-1012">Increase in emergency cases seasonal, says private hospitals</a></div>

<p>The emergency room of East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) operated above its authorized bed capacity this week, its administration said Wednesday.</p>

The emergency room of East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) operated above its authorized bed capacity this week, its administration said Wednesday.

East Avenue Medical Center ER exceeds capacity; zero balance billing a possible factor

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East Avenue Medical Center ER exceeds capacity; zero balance billing a possible factor

Francis Orcio

Published Aug 06, 2025 10:35 AM PHT

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Updated Aug 06, 2025 12:07 PM PHT

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