The Department of Health (DOH) has advised the public to seek treatment at other government hospitals after the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) exceeded its emergency room capacity.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa assured that 20 DOH-run hospitals in Metro Manila are ready to assist, including major facilities in Quezon City and Manila.
PGH currently has 300 patients in its ER—despite being designed for only 70—and has activated “Code Triage” to manage the surge.
While PGH remains open for critical cases, hospitals, clinics, and ambulances have been told not to bring in new patients unless necessary.
DOH emphasized that expanding access alone, like through the “zero balance” billing policy, is not enough without addressing hospital overcrowding and staffing shortages.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 6, 2025
