The hospital utilization rate in Metro Manila is going up due to non-COVID-19 cases, the National Patient Navigation and Referral Center (NPNRC) said on Friday.
The NPNRC, formerly known as One Hospital Command, refers patients from the provinces to their local hospitals and coordinates health facilities within the capital region, said Dr. Bernadett Velasco, operations manager of NPNRC.
“Our hospitals are becoming full because of non-COVID cases. Just like what we experienced before, when COVID cases decline, non-COVID cases increase because this is the time when patients with chronic diseases or uncontrolled illnesses seek consultation.),” Velasco said in a televised public briefing.
“We also maximize the use of our health facilities so that not everyone goes to specialized facilities like the PGH,” Velasco also said.
The NPNRC is also ready to identify and coordinate cases of monkeypox, Velasco said.
The center is open to calls 24/7, Velasco said. The public may reach the center at 09199773333 (Smart) and 0915777777 (Globe).
The NPNRC meanwhile urged the public to refrain from prank calling their hotline numbers.
Velasco said the “numbers are for those needing medical assistance.”
She said they are still receiving COVID-related calls, as most patients already know the process while they refer others needing isolation facilities to available centers.
“Most of them know where to stay, if they can stay at home, they’ll report it to the barangay officials or their barangay health centers,” she said.
Most of the calls come from the National Capital Region (NCR), she said.
Asked about the situation of hospitals in NCR after the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) closed down its elective procedures due to an influx of non-COVID patients, Velasco said they have observed that hospitals are filling up.
She said that this was because those with chronic illnesses or uncontrolled diseases can now get consultations and go to the emergency room.
Velasco said the occupancy rate in NCR was observed to have increased.
She advised the public to contact 1555 and press 2 to be connected to the NPNRC. She said they may also be contacted through 0919 977 3333 (Smart) and 0915 777 7777 (Globe).
Unlike the One Hospital Command which was launched for the COVID-19 response, Velasco said the NPNRC also handles non-COVID patients.
“We also expanded our telemedicine and teleconsultation as well as the medical assistance we can provide to the community. We are coordinating with the proper agencies or offices.),” she added.
She also said they have advised their staff on how to handle possible monkeypox cases.
Velasco said they have also started coordinating with facilities in case of a probable or confirmed monkeypox case
 said on Friday.){kind=link}