02/12/2025
We understand how alarming it can be to be bitten or scratched by an animal. But it’s important to know that while these cases are urgent, they are generally not classified as emergency cases when managed within the recommended timeframe.
Medical guidelines, including those from the World Health Organization, advise that anyone bitten or scratched by an animal should receive anti-rabies vaccination within 24 to 48 hours. Acting within this period helps protect you and prevents the need to visit a hospital emergency room.
Under the iCare Primary Care Model, treatment for animal bites and scratches should be received at accredited outpatient clinics and Animal Bite Centers (ABCs). This ensures that you receive timely and appropriate care without the long waiting times that often occur in emergency rooms. At the same time, it allows ERs to remain available for patients who are facing truly life-threatening conditions.
Why not the ER?
✔️ ERs must remain available for critical and life-threatening emergencies.
✔️ Animal bites and scratches generally require urgent outpatient care, not emergency intervention, as long as they are treated promptly.
✔️ Going directly to an ABC helps you avoid unnecessary delays and supports sustainable healthcare for everyone.
iCare has the largest network of Animal Bite Centers nationwide, giving you access to the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
Let us look out for one another.
Choose the proper care pathway and help keep ERs available for those who truly need emergency treatment.
To learn more and find a clinic near you, visit www.icare.com.ph
iCare - Trusted HMO in the Philippines
