DAVAO CITY — All patients referred to hospitals in Davao City besides Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) are now required to submit results of their reverse transmission-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) taken within 24 to 48 hours to protect healthcare workers from unnecessary exposure to COVID-19.
The requirement for RT-PCR test of patients is contained in Executive Order No. 53 signed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Duterte which was issued on Friday, September 25, 2020.
Section 1 of the EO 53 sets the mandatory test result requirements for admission and surgery in Davao City hospitals.
The EO states, for patients and watcher/companion who are not residents of Davao City: a negative RT-PCR result with a specimen taken 24 to 48 hours from admission or surgery and a Chest-Xray, showing the negative result for Pneumonia taken within 24 to 48 hours is needed.
For Davao patients and watcher/companion, a Chest-Xray result with negative for pneumonia taken within 24 to 48 hours from admission or surgery is needed.
But for emergency cases, all Davao City residents must be swabbed upon arrival at the hospital.
All Davao City hospitals are encouraged to make it a policy to request the results required under Section 1 for walk-in patients and their companions.
All cancer patients shall undergo a baseline RT-PCR test, and will be encouraged to continuously self-isolate. A medical certificate from their oncologist issued within 24 to 48 hours before travel to Davao City and a baseline negative RT-PCR test result attached to the medical certificate are required for cancer patients who are not residents of Davao City.
For the entry of non-residents’ referral, the EO states that there must be a prior endorsement by the referring hospital or doctor of all patients and their companions. The endorsement should include electronic copies of the test results mandated by Section 1.
The city government only assigned SPMC as the receiving medical facility for all coronavirus-related cases to protect healthcare workers and patients in other hospitals.
The EO also covers entry of non-residents non-resident referral, there must be a prior endorsement by the referring hospital or doctor of all patients and their companions. The endorsement should include electronic copies of the test results mandated by Section 1.
Duterte-Carpio issued the order after Davao City recorded cases of Covid-19 positive patients who had medical check-ups for other illnesses in hospitals not assigned to receive coronavirus cases.
In an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio, Duterte-Carpio said she issued the order after Davao City recorded cases of Covid-19 positive patients who had medical check-ups for other illnesses in hospitals not assigned to receive coronavirus cases.
Duterte-Carpio said there is a need to protect everyone in the hospital from Covid-19 infection so that can perform their work.
Patients who refuse to undergo testing should be reported to the City Health Office and should be tagged as a suspect and moved to designated Covid-19 hospitals.
The city government will pursue sanctions against people who fail to follow the provisions of the EO.-Newsline With CIO report
