3 regions monitored for high health care utilization rates

MANILA, Philippines — Three regions spread through Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao are being closely monitored by the Department of Health (DOH) because of high health care utilization rates (HCUR) for COVID-19 cases.

Speaking at a public briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they continue to see an increase in the HCUR in Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Western Visayas (Region 6) and Davao (Region 11).

“If we try to analyze specific areas in these regions, there is one factor that is causing the rise in the utilization of health care. That would be the limited number of beds for COVID-19 patients,” Vergeire pointed out.

So the DOH is now working with regional officials and various agencies to capacitate the COVID-19 wards in these regions, she said.

DOH data as of June 28 showed that the HCUR of Davao region is 71.43 percent, Western Visayas is at 64.19 percent and Cagayan Valley is at 52.74 percent.

Vergeire stressed that the DOH has been keeping the Visayas and Mindanao under tight watch for COVID-19 cases.

“Specific to the Visayas, it’s region 6, 7 (Cebu) and 8 (Eastern Visayas). For Mindanao, we have 11, 12 (Soccsksargen), Caraga (Region 13),” she said.

The DOH is also looking at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao.

“We are monitoring all of these areas, aside from Luzon areas, specifically Calabarzon (Region 4-A), Ilocos (Region 1), Cagayan Valley and in Cordillera Autonomous region because their health care utilization is also increasing,” Vergeire said.