Seventy-six patients were infected in an “outbreak” of Hepatitis C at the hemodialysis facility of the Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital in Bacolod City, the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health was told during a hearing Tuesday, December 14.
Dr. Willy Yu, BQMH medical director, said the medical needs of the 76 patients hit with Hepatitis C will be shouldered by the hospital.
He said they cannot pinpoint the exact source of the spread of the Hepatitis C but they will take responsibility because it happened at their facility.
Councilor Cindy Rojas, SP Committee on Health chair, who presided over the hearing, said they still do not know where the virus originated from since Yu disclosed that all of their staff tested negative for Hepatitis C.
The hearing addressed the concerns of the patients and the side of the hospital was heard, Rojas said.
Rojas said she suggested to both parties that after the hearting they sit down again and put in writing what they agree on to be submitted to the SP Committee.
They also asked the hospital to provide immediate consultation to the patients and to provide them needed medications, she said, which the BQMH committed to provide for free.
Rojas said she also asked the BQMH to submit an incident report to the Department of Health so it can be investigated.
“This is a serious matter, we are talking about 76 patients infected with Hepatitis C in a span of six or seven months starting June,” she said.
“The hospital is up for renewal of license and the Department of Health will be here any time this month to check on their facility,” she said.
Rojas said she cannot speak for the patients on what further actions they may take.
Alma Lamis Desabille, a representative of the complainants, said the patients will meet to discuss their demands following the hearing Tuesday.*