PNP hospital opens doors to dengue patients

MANILA, Philippines – With dengue cases being reported all over the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital at Camp Crame said yesterday it will accommodate civilian patients with dengue.

Chief Inspector Beverly de Guzman of the PNP Health Service said the PNP-GH has the capacity and capability to treat patients with dengue.

“The PNP General Hospital is open to civilians, particularly emergency cases. Many hospitals are crowded with dengue patients. Patients with dengue may also go to the PNP General Hospital,” she said during the Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP), a weekly forum sponsored by the PNP.

De Guzman said at present, the PNP-GH is treating six police officers and 23 police dependents, 14 of them children, for dengue.

De Guzman said the PNP-GH could handle dengue cases since they have 45 police-doctors and 20 doctor-consultants.

Records showed that from Jan. 1 to Sept. 2 this year, there were 77,012 cases, representing an increase of 108.8 percent from 36,877 cases during the same period last year. In 2009, there were 383 deaths but there were 534 this year.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona warned that while many regions see a decline in dengue cases, the number of patients in Metro Manila continues to increase.