Private hospitals across the country have reported a manageable rise in influenza-like illness (ILI) cases, according to the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI). Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, PHAPI president, said that over the past three to four weeks, they recorded around a 10% increase in patients showing flu-like symptoms—mostly involving children, seniors, and individuals with underlying conditions.
However, he emphasized that the situation is already showing signs of stabilizing. “We’re observing a plateau in the past few days, and we hope this continues or trends downward,” he noted in a radio interview.
Surge Linked to More Patients Seeking Treatment
Health officials believe the growing number of consultations may be due to more individuals choosing to seek medical care instead of staying home while sick. The Department of Health also confirmed earlier that the first half of October recorded fewer ILI cases than the latter part of September, reinforcing that there is no outbreak at the moment despite some localized advisories and class suspensions.
Most cases handled by private hospitals remain mild, and many patients are given home care advice and isolation instructions. Still, the flow of patients requiring evaluation has kept hospital staff busy.
Staffing Gaps Affect Bed Capacity in Some Facilities
While private hospitals can still manage overall demand, a few are nearing full capacity in their emergency and ward areas. Dr. De Grano explained that the limitation is not space, but the shortage of nurses needed to operate additional beds safely.
Once emergency rooms fill up with patients awaiting discharge or available ward slots, delays in admissions become inevitable. He added that some of the influx also comes from government hospitals redirecting patients due to their own capacity concerns.
On the brighter side, PHAPI reports that other health threats such as pneumonia, typhoid, and leptospirosis, have not shown significant increases. Dengue cases have risen but remain below outbreak thresholds.
