The Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), in coordination with the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG), Department of Tourism (DOT), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), officially launched the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) at the MMDA Arena, Makati City.

The Command Center will house the One Hospital Command which will facilitate a comprehensive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring effective and efficient health facility referral in Metro Manila.

Health Undersecretary and Treatment Czar Dr. Leopoldo Vega, who heads the One Hospital Command, assured that the OHCC will ultimately reduce the waiting time of patients by referring them to the appropriate health facility that could best provide for the level of care they require.

The OHCC will also facilitate medical transport and patient pick-up arrangements, provide health system capacity data analytics and risk communications, and optimize the use of critical care services of every hospital in the area.

According to OHCC Operations Manager Dr. Bernadett Pua Velasco, the center can be accessed in three different ways. First, by using the Pure Force Citizens application which can be downloaded in Google Play store and App Store for free. It can also be accessed by calling its dedicated lines: 02-886-505-00, 0915-777-7777 and 0919-977-3333. Lastly, through Quick Response (QR) codes that the public can scan.

In anticipation of the large volume of calls and referrals, the center will be powered by an off-site call-taking and dispatch company that will enable OHCC staff to focus on directing and coordinating COVID-19 case referrals.

All details gathered during the call will then be uploaded to a dispatch system that will automatically prompt OHCC coordinators from various agencies that a new case needs to be handled.

Using the DOH dashboards and protocols, the coordinators will identify the proper health facility where the case will be referred. Once identified, the coordinator will then call the receiving facility, update the dispatch system, and provide feedback to the referring facility or patient.

For emergency cases, the call taker, together with the OHCC coordinators will simultaneously coordinate with the receiving facility and provide pre-arrival instructions.

“Through the provision of critical services such as 24/7 coordination of our various health facilities, data analytics, communication, transportation, and other unified network mechanisms and interventions, we will strengthen our health system capacity and prevent our hospitals and health care workers from being overwhelmed,” explained Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, emphasizing how the OHCC underscores the whole-of-government, whole-of-system, and whole-of-nation approach of the national government against COVID-19.

Also present during the launch were Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan against COVID-19 Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, NTF Chairperson Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Deputy Chief Implementer and Testing Czar Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon, NTF Vice Chairperson Secretary Eduardo M. Ano, MMDA Chairman Danilo D. Lim, MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Jose Arturo S. Garcia, Jr. and DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain.