San Lazaro Hospital may transfer dialysis patients amid leptospirosis surge

San Lazaro Hospital is considering referring dialysis patients to other medical facilities due to a surge in leptospirosis cases and a strain on its resources.

The hospital currently has 57 leptospirosis patients, with the number of severe cases increasing, placing a strain on medical staff and supplies.

The hospital faces a shortage of nurses and medicine to manage the growing number of leptospirosis patients.

There are only four hemodialysis machines and three nurses available to operate them, posing a potential problem if more severe patients require dialysis.

The influx of leptospirosis cases is attributed to the July 24 floods caused by the southwest monsoon intensified by a typhoon.

The Department of Health (DOH) is prepared to provide additional equipment, health workers, and medicine to struggling medical facilities.

The DOH also stated that patients do not need to flock to San Lazaro Hospital and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, as many other hospitals can accommodate them.