Sarangani: Patients at several hospitals in Sarangani have begun returning to indoor facilities on Tuesday, two days after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake caused widespread evacuations across southern Mindanao. Among the healthcare facilities clearing patients to re-enter buildings is the Malungon Sarangani Provincial Hospital.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Health (DOH) stated in a public advisory, "Karamihan sa mga pasyente ay nasa loob na ng ospital, pero ang iba ay nananatili sa temporary facilities habang sinisiguro ang structural integrity ng mga gusali (Most of the patients are already inside the hospital, but others remain in temporary facilities while the structural integrity of the buildings is being ensured)." Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa visited the healthcare facility to assess ongoing medical operations and to check the structural integrity of the hospital.

To sustain the ongoing disaster response, Herbosa assured affected local government units that the department is ready to deploy specialized medical personnel to augment local hospital staff. "Siniguro naman ni Sec. Herbosa na ang manpower sa mga ospital na mangangailangan ng karagdagang relyebo ay masusuportahan ng Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team o PEMAT (Secretary Herbosa assured that the manpower in hospitals requiring additional relief will be supported by the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team or PEMAT)," it added.

In addition to manpower support, the Department of Health (DOH) regional offices have mobilized logistical assets to replenish the medical stockpiles of front-line infirmaries. It reported that DOH Davao Region and DOH Soccsksargen have already sent trucks carrying medicines and hygiene kits as part of the support for hospitals that continue to respond to quake victims.