Malacañang announced that 33 Department of Health (DOH) medical centers have opened priority fast lanes dedicated to leptospirosis patients amid a surge in infections triggered by severe monsoonal flooding.
The executive update was presented by Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a media briefing following reports of extreme overcrowding at Manila’s San Lazaro Hospital and other primary facilities across Metro Manila.
Castro specified that the fast-track system spans health centers in Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
To prevent logistical bottlenecks, the DOH activated surge capacity protocols to secure sufficient bed capacity and emergency pharmaceutical supplies for individuals requiring inpatient care.
Surveillance figures from the health department indicate that national cases reached 4,285 as of August 22—a 25 percent climb compared to the 3,440 cases recorded from early January through August 8. The highest density of exposures remains concentrated in the National Capital Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.
To control hospital congestion, Health Secretary Edwin Mercado convened an emergency command conference with regional medical directors to streamline cross-facility referrals and transfer protocols.
Concurrently, the DOH Operations Center is routing incoming patients away from San Lazaro Hospital toward secondary regional medical facilities.
Castro assured the public that DOH hospitals, community health centers, and YAKAP clinics remain fully operational to provide immediate evaluations for anyone exposed to floodwaters.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted through water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, leaving individuals who navigate flooded areas particularly vulnerable.
The Palace noted that further public advisories regarding facility bed availability and enhanced containment strategies will be issued pending the final outcomes of ongoing DOH consultations.