Manila: Most serious injuries related to road crashes are caused by overspeeding, the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) said Tuesday. In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, POC Medical Center chief Dr. Jose Pujalte Jr. highlighted that pedestrians are the most common victims of such accidents.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dr. Pujalte emphasized the critical condition of many patients upon arrival at the hospital, noting, "Sometimes they are already dying when they arrive at our hospital." He pointed out the importance of minimizing the time gap between the incident and the patient's transfer to emergency medical care, stressing the need for properly trained emergency medicine technicians.

In 2024, the POC attended to 134,000 patients, with a significant number being road crash victims, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. The hospital's emergency room sees around 100 patients daily with fractured extremities and damaged internal organs.

Dr. Pujalte noted specific concerns regarding motorcycle riders, who frequently suffer from fractured extremities, neck injuries, and head concussions. Despite helmet laws, many riders are inadequately protected, leading to injuries, especially to their legs.

As the National Specialty Center in Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine, the POC provides accessible services to all, including the indigent, under the Universal Health Care law and the "no balance billing" policy. "This means patients entering our hospital are not required to pay fees, including for the implant or steel we use in surgery," Dr. Pujalte stated.

He also mentioned an existing memorandum of agreement with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, allowing injured traffic officers to receive emergency care at the POC.