Baguio folks press private clinics’ opening for patients

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office was ordered to prepare guidelines on operation of private clinics and laboratories following clamor from residents to consult their private physicians and undergo tests in laboratories.

            Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong issued the directive to City Health Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo to guide him in issuance of future directives on operation of private clinics and private laboratories in the city.

            One of the establishments that are prohibited to operate while Luzon is under extended enhanced community quarantine are private clinics of physicians and medical laboratories.

            The city chief executive admitted having gave some verbal instructions allowing the temporary operation of private clinics and private medical laboratories in the city considering that there are patients who also want to consult their private physicians and undergo tests from private medical laboratories.

            He said health authorities must consult private physicians and owners of medical laboratories to ascertain rules during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine so that the same will be used to govern their temporary operation once the ongoing lockdown will be relaxed by the national inter-agency task force on the management of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

            Earlier, some private clinics of physicians and medical laboratories started operations due to clamor from residents wanting to consult with their private physicians.

            The CHSO was instructed to immediately consult affected folks to guide any issuance that will govern the operation of the private clinics in consideration of the need for residents to consult their physicians.

            City officials and health authorities are hoping the extended Luzon enhanced community quarantine will not be extended again to allow transition from quarantine period to the new normal.

            During this period of enhanced community quarantine, patients needing medical checkup are frequently referred to government hospitals while laboratory tests are done in the laboratories of the same health facilities. The city government is strongly recommending the start of the operation of key sectors of the community once the quarantine period will be lifted at the end of the month so that there will be a transition of the activities of the residents who have stayed in their residences for over a month now.