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THE Rizal Medical Center launched on Wednesday, March 12, its Dengue Fast Lane, an initiative to make diagnosis and treatment for dengue patients faster.
Rizal Medical Center has accounted for a total of 69 cases since January, unlike seven from last year, with 55 of those cases being 14 years old and below.
"We have implemented the Dengue Testing Initiative to speed up the diagnosis and management of patients with dengue in our hospital. This includes doses and supplies," said Dr. Maria Rica Lumague of the Rizal Medical Center.
"That is why we have prioritized our supply chain to ensure that there is no shortage of medicines, i.e., fluids and blood products, that can be used to manage severe dengue," added Lumague.
They also opened two separate beds in their emergency room dedicated to treating dengue patients.
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Darwin Rosete is one of those who benefited from the dengue fast lane. He said he first started showing symptoms on Friday when he got a cold, body pains and rashes.
"My whole body was aching. I also took medicine, but it didn't make me sweat. No matter what medicine I took, it didn't make me sweat. And rashes started to show up (on my skin)," said Rosete in Filipino.
Afterwards, he was admitted to a hospital near his place, but due to their limited laboratory equipment, they couldn't give him a prior diagnosis. So, he went to Rizal Medical Center to get treatment.
"It's hard being diagnosed with dengue because I can't go to work," said Rosete, who works as a security guard.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa was also present in the event, where he conducted hospital rounds along with other executives from the Department of Health (DOH).
He explained why, all of a sudden, there is an increase in dengue cases in comparison to last year's data.
"As the weather gets hotter and more humid, the more mosquitoes will want to reproduce," said Herbosa.
He also assures the public that should they contract dengue, their out-of-pocket spending will be lessened.
"We have increased our dengue benefit package on PhilHealth to P19,500. For severe cases, it's P47,000."
The Rizal Medical Center is just one of 384 hospitals and 60 DOH hospitals to have a dengue fast lane, as DOH, with its Department Memorandum 2025-0075, will require all hospitals to reestablish their dengue fast lanes.
