Dammam Central Hospital and the employer of a Filipino in serious condition with swine flu are doing everything they can to provide the best available treatment at no cost, sources said. The 43-year-old male Filipino is in the intensive care unit (ICU) on a lung machine to help him breathe, a hospital source told the Saudi Gazette, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on behalf of the hospital. He is under dialysis because of renal failure and being fed through an IV (intravenous) drip, the source said. “He is in a coma and his condition is not improving,” the source said. The Filipino man was admitted last Thursday and put in the ICU the following day. He was brought in by his employer. “All the care is being given,” the source said. “An infectious diseases consultant has been assigned to him, the required medicines are made available, and the hospital is in constant touch with the employer to provide whatever is needed and available.” “The patient has no relative to turn to.” The source said the hospital's social service section was supporting him. “Because he has no relative, his employer is consulted all the time. He (the employer) signs papers and coordinates on what's needed for his treatment. The medicines and all supports programs are absolutely free.” Dammam Central Hospital has a state-of-the art regional laboratory to deliver H1N1 test results within four hours.
