Manila: The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) have assured the public of uninterrupted services and heightened readiness for the expected surge in holiday-related medical cases.
According to Philippines News Agency, on Monday, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa inspected both hospitals as part of the department's Ligtas Christmas campaign, which aims to ensure prompt emergency care during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Herbosa reviewed the NKTI's emergency room operations, which will remain open not only for renal-related concerns but also for non-renal complaints. The hospital recorded a high number of difficulty-of-breathing cases from Dec. 21, 2024, to Jan. 6, 2025.
NKTI Executive Director Dr. Jose Dante Dator stated that the institute is prepared to expand bed capacity if needed to accommodate more patients during the holiday period. He added that the NKTI continues to coordinate closely with the nearby DOH-East Avenue Medical Center and the PHC, especially for possible increases in fireworks-related injuries, road crashes, and non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, acute stroke, and bronchial asthma.
Meanwhile, the PHC also affirmed its full preparedness for an expected uptick in cardiovascular and respiratory emergencies. The center is particularly focused on managing cases of stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and bronchial asthma, which traditionally rise in December and January. The PHC announced that it earned Platinum Status this March as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital, signifying its capability to deliver rapid diagnosis and immediate initial treatment to stroke patients. Its Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service Center will remain open throughout the holidays to provide urgent medical assistance, including for fireworks-related injuries, road crash victims, and patients with non-communicable diseases.
Both NKTI and PHC emphasized their teams are on full alert to ensure safe and timely care for Filipinos during the festive season. Herbosa noted that DOH hospitals are under Code White Alert from Dec. 21, 2025 to Jan. 6, 2026, with hospitals expected to activate their operations center and provide emergency and operating rooms, especially for trauma, with more medicines and medical supplies. More medical staff are also deployed in the health facilities during holiday celebrations.
