Doctor who died from COVID-19 had difficulty getting admitted to hospital

by Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News, 23 Apr 2021

A doctor who succumbed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had to go through seven hospitals to find an available room amid the lack of vacancies, his friend said Friday.

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras,” anesthesiologist Dr. Ronald Torres Victorio tested positive anew for COVID-19 after his first battle with the illness in August 2020.

Not only was the illness detected late after Victorio tested negative for numerous swab tests, but he also had a difficult time finding a hospital that could accommodate him.

“Nagpunta kami sa iba’t ibang hospital. Actually pang 7 po ang East Avenue sa napuntahang ospital ni doc. Kasi sa ibang mga ospital po hanggang parking lot lang po si doc,” Dr. Hermie Maglaya said.

(We went to various hospitals. East Avenue was the 7th hospital that we visited because in other hospitals he could not get past the parking lot.)

Data from the Department of Health showed that 2,752 doctors in the country tested positive for COVID-19, 33 of whom died from the illness.

“Very sad kasi once na, it’s not an assurance when you’re a doctor, you can be assured to get an admission right away,” Maglaya said.

“Siguro kung hindi po kasagsagan ng COVID ngayon and mas maaga pong napa-admit si doc, at na-address po ‘yung mga sakit po niya,” she added.

(Maybe if it didn’t happen during the pandemic and if he was admitted early and his sickness was addressed.)

Maglaya said Victorio was weak from his first bout with the sickness.

“After namin mag COVID, sabi niya hindi pa niya kayang mag excercise ulit kasi mula matapos siyang mag unang COVID, madali na siyang hingalin,” she said.

(After we tested positive for COVID, he said he still couldn’t exercise because he tired easily.)

Meanwhile, Victorio’s family pleaded with the public to follow protocols.

“Hindi lang naman siya ‘yung nagsa-sabi. Marami. Marami. Lalo na ‘yung mga frontliners natin na iniiwan ‘yung mga pamilya nila para matulungan ‘yung iba,” Katrina Garcia, his niece, meanwhile said.

(He wasn’t the only one to say this. A lot of people, especially the frontliners who leave their families to help others.)