Catarman: The Northern Samar Provincial Hospital (NSPH) has resumed normal operations after exceeding its maximum bed capacity for more than a week, local officials said on Monday. Provincial health officer Dr. Ma. Aurora Vicencio and NSPH chief Dr. Joseph Estanislao informed Northern Samar Gov. Harris Ongchuan in a board meeting that the hospital's situation has stabilized, allowing it to accommodate new patient admissions.
According to Philippines News Agency, the officials clarified that the recent surge in patients was not linked to any disease outbreak but rather due to an increase in common cases such as diarrhea, measles, respiratory infections, influenza-like illnesses and injuries from vehicular accidents. To address the temporary strain on hospital capacity, NSPH coordinated with rural health units and district hospitals to manage mild and non-critical cases within their localities.
Northern Samar has eight district hospitals strategically located across the province - in the island towns of Capul, San Antonio, Biri, and San Vicente, as well as in Gamay, Catubig, Laoang, and Allen. In addition, all 24 towns have functional municipal health centers that can handle basic health emergencies and outpatient care. This strategy enabled the provincial hospital to focus on patients requiring advanced medical care.
Ongchuan commended the NSPH management and the health sector for their prompt coordination and effective response, emphasizing that ensuring efficient healthcare delivery remains a top priority of the provincial government. 'We recognize the hard work and quick action of our medical frontliners and local health partners. Their collaboration ensures that our people continue to receive timely and quality healthcare services,' the governor stated.
On Oct. 18, the NSPH management appealed for public understanding and cooperation as it continued to face a surge in patient admissions and was operating at more than double its authorized capacity. During the week, the NSPH served about 360 admitted patients, far beyond its authorized 150-bed capacity and even its actual 200-bed operating capacity.
