‘Hospital’ for Chinese nationals with COVID-19 raided in Pampanga

Authorities have raided a former leisure village that has been turned into a “hospital” for Chinese nationals who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Pampanga.

COVID-19 hospital Chinese Pampanga
Image from GMA News

In John Consulta’s report in GMA News “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the former vacation resort, which was converted into a health facility had a seven-bed capacity and an illegal pharmacy.

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The said facility has no permit to operate from the Department of Health or the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Medical waste, such as used syringes, tubes, and open plastic containers, was also found in the scene.

“Mga Chinese nationalities’ yung mga pasyente nito. Hahanapin natin kung sino sino ‘yung mga positive dito,” said Police Brigadier General Rhoderick Armamento.

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(The patients here are Chinese nationalities. Let’s find out who the positives are here.)

“Hindi natin alam na sila pala, akala nila magaling na sila pero ‘yun pala is patuloy silang nanghahawa ng virus dahil sa pagkakaalam nila, nagamot na sila ng ospital na ito,” the official added.

(We didn’t know that they were [infected]. They continue to spread the virus because they thought they are already cured since they got treated at this hospital.)

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Also read: Chinese national arrested for hoarding P4-M worth of alcohol, masks

‘Hospital’ for Chinese nationals with COVID-19 raided 

Authorities also found medicines with Chinese labels that believed to be used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The drugs are not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

Police found a patient in the illegal facility who was taken to a real hospital.

The “administrator” and “pharmacist” were arrested for creating fake treatment, but they refused to give a statement.

Those arrested will face violations of the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 and the Medical Act of 1958.

In April, authorities also seized hundreds of boxes of illegal or unregistered medicines and medical supplies for COVID-19 patients from the storage of an arrested Chinese doctor in Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque City.

Among those seized at Yumei Liang’s house were medicines against other diseases such as STDs and HIV-AIDS.

The mayor and city health office officials found that a large number of medicines were stored, including those for sexually transmitted diseases, herbal supplements, and non-prescription drugs against flu and respiratory illness.