Philips Foundation stands by Italy in COVID-19 battle 

• Handover of two mobile care isolation units to the Italian Red Cross to assist COVID-19 patients
• Destined for Sardinia and Lombardy to relieve pressure on local health facilities
• Each modular unit offers 20 beds for the isolation and care of patients affected by the coronavirus

Philips Foundation, which aims to provide access to quality healthcare for disadvantaged communities, with support from Philips Italy, AFAS Foundation and Noaber Foundation, has delivered two mobile isolation care units to the Italian Red Cross for patients affected by COVID-19.

The two units arrived in Italy last week from the Netherlands. They have been sent to Sardinia and Lombardy, at the request of the Italian Red Cross, which is responsible for the build-up of the inflatable module tents and coordination of the project. The objective is to expand the care capacity of local health facilities, supporting patient screening and hospitalization, as well as providing first aid and quality assistance to people suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19.

In the coming days, the mobile health facility will go into operation at a hospital in the province of Nuoro, Sardinia, extending it with 20 beds. In Legnano, in the region of Lombardy, the second mobile facility is at the Italian Red Cross Emergency Response Center, which is tracking the situation as it develops in order to identify where the mobile facility can best support the needs of the most affected region in Italy.

“The decision to send a unit to Sardinia is due to the particular nature of the region,” explains Ignazio Schintu, Head of the Emergency Area of the Italian Red Cross. “In the event of worsening conditions, the response would take time due to the need for transportation by sea. Furthermore, although not among the regions most affected by the pandemic, Sardinia has a limited number of hospitals and a need to expand and separate COVID-19 from non-COVID capacity. The choice of Legnano, on the other hand, is strategic – to be able to intervene in the areas most affected in case of need. Thanks to this contribution from Philips Foundation, we are further strengthening our response capacity, at a time when any intervention can make a difference.”

This initiative is in addition to the donations made in recent weeks to the Civil Protection, Red Cross and Cesvi by Philips Foundation and Philips Italy.

“This further action echoes Philips Foundation’s concrete commitment to support national health systems, by working with a partner like the Red Cross, which has been at the forefront of managing this unprecedented emergency from the beginning,” said Simona Comandè, General Manager of Philips Italy, Israel & Greece.

The mobile care units provided to Italy are part of a broader international project by the coalition of Philips Foundation, AFAS Foundation and Noaber Foundation. They have procured and made available five temporary 20-bed hospitals for areas heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For the press release issued by Philips Italy, click here.