SM Foundation, UP-PGH revamp pulmonary hub

The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, in partnership with the SM Foundation, has formally opened the country's first Pulmonary Care Center and Post-Covid Hub — the first in the Philippines. 

This comes as former victims of the Covid-19 virus need full rehabilitation as post-symptoms linger on their psyches and bodies.

In an interview with the Daily Tribune, Dr. Leonora Fernandez, chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine of UP-PGH said the hub aims to help Filipinos afflicted with chronic lung diseases and long-term Covid-19 syndrome to breathe and live better.

"We expect our services now to those who are suffering from post-Covid syndrome and prolonged breathlessness. But we continue our services to those who have chronic lung diseases," Fernandez said.

Further, Fernandez stated that the 120 square-meter Pulmonary Care Center and Post-Covid Hub in Ermita, Manila officially started operation a month ago and patients who have first availed the services have already finished the first set of its program. The center can accommodate 10 to 15 patients at a time.

Patients being treated in the facility are those with post-Covid-19 conditions or those who are already not infectious but still suffer from coughing, difficulty in breathing, and still have abnormalities on their X-rays.

"Some suffer from fatigue, cognitive defects, and sometimes tend to forget things or what we call mental and brain fog. Although Science is not yet definite on the actual number of the post-Covid syndrome, in the Philippines alone, there were about 4 million who were hit by the virus. However, it is said that 10 to 20 percent of those inflicted with the virus suffer from post-Covid-19 syndrome globally. So, we still expect thousands here in the country that is suffering from it," Fernandez said.

"Sometimes the effects of post-Covid-19 syndrome are not fatal but disabling, and that's the essence of the Pulmonary Care Center and Post-Covid Hub — for these former patients to undergo rehabilitation so that they can go back to their families and communities as productive members," Dr. Joselito Chavez, former chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, for his part, said.

The rehabilitation process normally takes four to six weeks, depending on the severity of the symptoms, which also can be done through an online process. 

A multidisciplinary effort, the process involves pulmonary experts, physical therapists from the UP-PGH Department of Rehabilitation Medicine; psychiatrists from the Department of Psychiatry to help patients with their mental health; nutritionists, as well as occupational therapists, and rehabilitation medicine doctors.

"It takes a village to take care of a patient and help them to rehabilitate," she said.

The therapy is currently free for four months, particularly for UP-PGH service patients. However, Fernandez said they are currently crafting packages for their pay patients.

"We are happy to have started here in PGH and we are willing to share our concept with other government hospitals to expand the help to our fellow kababayans," according to Chavez.

Milestone in healthcare

Meanwhile, Ms. Connie Angeles, SM Foundation's Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs, underlined that SM Foundation joined hands with UP-PGH to create the Pulmonary Care Center and Post-Covid Hub to fully express its unwavering commitment to helping the well-being of the Filipino people, creating a milestone in the country's healthcare system.

"This endeavor is a testament to the power of partnerships and social good. While organizations like the SM Foundation come together with healthcare institutions like the UP-PGH, we create a synergy that transforms lives," she said.