The Ministry of Health has implemented emergency measures by securing beds in private hospitals under the national health system (GHS) as public hospitals struggle with an influx of seasonal infections affecting both children and adults.
The arrangement, effective immediately until the end of February, requires private hospitals to accept patients and provide immediate care as public pathology, pulmonology, and paediatric wards operate at near capacity.
“The aim of this decision is to decongest public hospitals and prevent patients from waiting 48 hours or more in Accident and Emergency departments before being admitted to wards,” Christina Giannaki, director-general of the Ministry of Health, told philenews.
“This public inconvenience must stop,” Giannaki said. She explained that following a political decision by the minister, the ministry had sent letters to all private hospitals capable of treating patients with these health conditions.
Private hospitals have responded positively to the initiative, agreeing to maintain two to three available beds daily until 28 February, depending on each facility’s capacity, for these pathological cases.
Under the new arrangement, the ambulance service will transport patients showing clear symptoms of seasonal infections directly to hospitals with available beds. The ministry will monitor bed availability in real time, with designated staff members at each hospital maintaining contact with ministry officials.
“Seasonal infections are here every year, and every year we see people suffering. This arrangement aims to decongest public hospitals but primarily to ensure timely care for patients without unnecessary hardship,” Giannaki said.
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