Fire Hits PGH, 35 Babies, Other Patients Safe

A fire broke out at the state-run Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila early yesterday morning, prompting the transfer of adult and pediatric patients to other Manila hospitals and the closure of several PGH divisions, including its Emergency Room (ER) and Admissions.

- Analou De Vera, Dhel D. Nazario, Maria Gabriela Baron, And Andrea Kate Aro

The Bureau of Fire Protection National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) said the fire originated from the operating room sterilization area (ORSA) located on the third floor of the PGH and reached the first alarm at 12:41 a.m. It reached the second alarm at 12:58 a.m., was declared under control at 2:46 a.m., and fire out at 5:41 a.m. There were no reported casualties in the fire.

Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso said 12 infant patients were transferred to the Sta. Ana Hospital and four at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, both in Manila

Two other patients were transferred to the Ospital ng Maynila for appendectomy, according to Dr. Karl Laqui, hospital director.

The Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital provided five liters of pasteurized human milk for babies from the PGH that were transferred to the Sta. Ana hospital.

Sen. Richard Gordon, also chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), said two PRC fire trucks, six ambulances, and 18 rescue personnel with self-breathing apparatus were among the first to be deployed to the fire scene.

“I placed all chapters of the Red Cross on standby and 45 trucks were in the vicinity ready to evacuate the patients,” Gordon said. He also sent seven smoke-ejectors to the PGH to help remove the smoke that was still lingering in the area.

ER, neurosurgery, lab closed

The hospital’s emergency room will be temporarily closed and no admission will be accommodated. Neurosurgery and some laboratory services were also suspended