Ched Rick Gatchalian

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute's emergency room reaches full capacity on November 24, 2022, mostly due to patients on dialysis, including those with leptospirosis and COVID-19. The medical center advised the public to look for other hospitals as it deals with patient overcapacity and lack of manpower. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Public hospitals' emergency rooms exceed capacity as leptospirosis cases rise

ABS-CBN News

<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/175471141796520221124-nkti-full-capacity-MD-6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The National Kidney and Transplant Institute&#x27;s emergency room reaches full capacity on November 24, 2022, mostly due to patients on dialysis, including those with leptospirosis and COVID-19. The medical center advised the public to look for other hospitals as it deals with patient overcapacity and lack of manpower. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Several public hospitals in Metro Manila are advising potential patients to coordinate with them and check other health centers as they struggle to find space for patients in light of a surge of leptospirosis cases after recent storms and the southwest monsoon.</p><p>In an interview on DZMM Teleradyo, Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Dr. Jonas Del Rosario said they are &quot;300 percent over capacity&quot;, which he said in a little &quot;more manageable&quot; compared to the emergency rooms&#x27; condition last week.</p><p>&quot;Meron kaming pasyente na a little bit over 200 po, kasi ang aming talagang capacity sa emergency room is 70 to 75. Ngayon po mga 200 po ang pasyente na nandoon,&quot; he explained.</p><p>(We have a little more than 200 patients. Our emergency room capacity is just 70 to 75)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/pgh-er-operating-in-overcapacity-public-urged-to-find-other-hospitals-1820"><strong>PGH ER operating in ‘overcapacity’; public urged to find other hospitals</strong></a></div><p>Del Rosario said the hospital has to prioritize critically ill patients for now and advised potential patients to seek other options.</p><p>&quot;Kapag sobrang daming pasyente, kahit may paglalagyan ka, sinong titingin sa kanila? May certain ratio po &#x27;yung pasyente at nurse, pasyente at doktor.&quot;</p><p>(If there are too many patients, even if you have beds for them, who will treat them? There is a certain ratio of doctors to patients, nurses to patients that we have to maintain)</p><p>He said overcrowding in the ER could make it difficult to conduct procedures like resuscitating patients because there is nowhere to place stretchers.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz86TOfDIfqXIe&amp;cid=ABeFAL1CozAUOJQr"></script></div><div><strong>EAST AVENUE ALSO ABOVE USUAL CAPACITY</strong></div><p>The East Avenue Medical Center is also operating more than its authorized bed capacity.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung latest namin na census sa aming emergency department ay nasa 168 ang aming bed capacity, lagpas na rin kami sa aming usual na bed,&quot; said Dr. John Paul Ner, spokesperson of the hospital.</p><p>(Our latest census of the emergency department puts bed capacity at 168, that is already above than our usual capacity)</p><p>He said they are still accepting patients, but similar to PGH, are prioritizing those who are in critical condition.</p><p>&quot;Opo [tatanggap pa rin], hindi naman kami nagsasara ng aming emergency department, may ginagawa lang kamin triaging,&quot; Ner said.</p><p>(We will not close our emergency department, but we do triaging)</p><p>Leptospirosis cases are also high among EAMC&#x27;s patients, Ner said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/8/6/east-avenue-medical-center-er-exceeds-capacity-zero-balance-billing-a-possible-factor-1035">East Avenue Medical Center ER exceeds capacity; zero balance billing a possible factor</a></div><div><br/></div><p>Emergency rooms at the National Kindey and Transpant Institute are less occupied these days, according to Dr. Romina Danguilan, deputy executive director for Medical Services.</p><p>&quot;We have 60 patients ho that are currently admitted, all with severe leptospirosis,&quot; she said, adding more than three in every four on dialysis or hooked up to ventilators. </p><p>She said nine new leptospirosis cases arrived Friday, lower than the 24 news cases during the peak of admissions.</p><p>Danguila said more DOH hospitals can now treat patients with leptospirosis as they have been &quot;prepared&quot; by the agency.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/8/7/-it-s-an-annual-thing-hospitals-feel-surge-in-leptospirosis-cases-anew-2350">Hospitals feel surge in leptospirosis cases anew</a></div><p>Health Secretary Ted Herbosa had inspected hospitals in Metro Manila late July, checking their preparedness in treating illnesses that are common during rainy season — including leptospirosis.</p>

<p>Several public hospitals in Metro Manila are advising potential patients to coordinate first or check other health centers, as they remain over capacity amid a surge of leptospirosis cases after recent storms and the southwest monsoon.</p>

Several public hospitals in Metro Manila are advising potential patients to coordinate first or check other health centers, as they remain over capacity amid a surge of leptospirosis cases after recent storms and the southwest monsoon.

'We prioritize critically ill patients': Public hospital emergency rooms exceed capacity as leptospirosis cases rise

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'We prioritize critically ill patients': Public hospital emergency rooms exceed capacity as leptospirosis cases rise

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 09, 2025 01:14 PM PHT

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