‘Adda ti medical indication tayo ti admission… nu low risk saan i-admit ta ti ma-admit diay mangkasapulan,’ – Doctor Jambaro explains provincial hospital admission isn’t automatic

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Amid public concerns and rising number of patients at the Kalinga Provincial Hopsptial (KPH), Medical Ward Chief Dr. Marvin Jambaro reminded the public that admission to be confined at the hospital is based on medical indications and not granted upon request.

With the growing posts circulating on Facebook that patients are admitted immediately at some hospitals and not at KPH, the provincial hospital has taken a step forward to address the matter.

Talking to GURU Press Cordillera, Dr. Jambaro says that government hospital space and medicines are reserved for patients who meet admission criteria, so not all who come or insist are admitted.

Due to limited bed capacity, patients are typically advised to return if symptoms persist after three days, as the medicine ward is often filled with around 70 patients, excluding other departments, within the hospital’s 100-bed capacity, making admissions challenging.

The medical chief further explained that the indications would be based on the patient’s assessment, particularly on whether the condition can be managed at home. Viral cases, like fever and cough, are often not admitted, and explanations are provided to all patients.

“…so adda dagidyay mabalin nga i-manage tayo, kasla dagidyay—nu pneumonia, nu low risk nga nagurigor or naguyek pero haan met marigatan nga aganges, kasdiay . Or kaya naman first day of fever paylang nga haan tayo met ammo nu inya ti possible reason na, baka viral lang met, so mabalin nga ma-manage lang idyay balay… saan iadmit ta ti ma-admit diay mangkasapulan base diay indications,” he explained.

Jambaro added that admission is usually given in government hospitals when medically necessary, unlike private hospitals, where it can be granted upon request.

“….kanyatayo gamin nga government/public hospital, adda talaga ti indication tayo ti admission. So kayat na saowen, intidihen tayo nga nu admit-en daka ma-admit ka talaga— and that’s different entity nu mapan ka ti private hospital. Nu private hospital kasi, kahit walang indication of admission, nu ibagam nga admit-en ka, ma-admit ka. Ta baka damdama, viral infection lang gayam ket nakakaabay ti mas nakarkaru nga infection idyay ket baka mas lalo pay nga maakaran—baka mas makahawa pay para kanyana,” he said.

As for the discharging of patients, the medical ward-based doctor said that patients are discharged based on the same medical criteria used for admission adding that patients in the medical and pediatrics wards are usually discharged only after 24–48 hours of observation.

“Sa amin kasi sa medical and pedia, until such time— kumbaga pneumonia, na wala na siyang fever for 24-48 hours, that’s the indication for discharge. So nu agurigor paylang uray naka 5 days en, aguray kami ti 24-48 hours nga awanen ti fever ken medyo nag-subside ti cough da samintu i-discharge,” he said.

With limited hospital options in the area, the KPH is working to meet licensing standards, stressing that admissions must still be based on medical indications.