Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The medical director of the Divine Grace Medical Center (DGMC) denied Cavite Gov. Boying Remulla’s claims that their facility was unable to take care of Cavite factory fire victims.
On Feb. 13, almost two weeks after the fire that razed the House Technology Industries (HTI) factory, Remulla said they have a health crisis “because the hospital is not competent to handle the patients.”
He said 24 victims were still confined at the Divine Grace Medical Center, while 16 were in danger of infection due to severe burns.
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However, DGMC Medical Director Ismael Mercado said in a statement released Feb. 17 that these claims are not true.
He added that the hospital was in constant communication with the Cavite Provincial Health Officer after stabilizing the patients and giving them the necessary initial treatment.
While Remulla said the hospital had no competent burn surgeon to treat the victims, Mercado said “there are no private hospitals that have burn units.”
“Divine Grace Medical Center is staffed with board-certified fellows of the Philippine College of Surgeons, who are taking care of the patients as a team,” he added.
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Remulla also claimed that the hospital management prevented the victims from being transferred to better-equipped hospitals, accusing them of milking money from the patients.
Mercado confirmed the governor’s offer to transfer the patients to Philippine General Hospital, a government hospital with a burn unit.
“So, we convened all the patient’s relatives as early as the 3rd hospital day to relay the offer. This was done in the presence of HTI officers and company nurses. However, no one wanted to be transferred at that time,” he said.
The medical director added that the hospital has to respect the patients’ decisions, unless they are deemed incompetent to make decisions by a court.
He added that on Feb. 6, three patients signified their intention to be transferred, and they facilitated this request by coordinating immediately with the Provincial Health Officer.
“No attempt was made on the part of the hospital management to prevent them from being transferred to other hospitals,” Mercado said.
