This is the disgusting moment huge rats crawled around on hospital beds where a patient was sleeping in the Philippines.

The rodents emerged from their nests to scrounge for food at the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center (ZNMC) in Zamboanga del Norte province, on February 21.

Stomach-turning footage shows the huge pests scampering across the filthy floorboards of the hospital's triage area. One of them clambered up an IV pole to boldly sniff around next to a sleeping patient before it was scared off by shocked onlookers.

Annie, a relative of a patient confined at the state-run hospital, said: 'We took the video because we felt we needed proof to show that this is really happening. We are not trying to malign the hospital.

'This hospital used to be clean. I don't know what happened to it. It's as if no one is paying attention to its maintenance. I hope whoever is in charge can address the issue. There should be a budget for utility workers and janitors.'

She added hospital bosses have warned her to delete the video.

In a statement, ZNMC said the triage area was just a temporary facility at the hospital.

The statement read: 'As of writing, we have not received any related complaint from the patients at said temporary holding facility nor from the person who took the video. Most importantly, there is no proof showing that the video was taken recently.

'Thus, we cannot confirm the accuracy of the video. True concern must be coupled with appropriate action, not a social media post that is designed to malign public service.

'Moreover, please be informed that the temporary holding facility is an enclosed room that is not part of the ZNMC main building. No incident similar to the alleged has occurred in any of the hospital wards.

'Lastly, as only professionals are able to properly control pests in buildings, we have periodic pest control treatment in place to address this matter. The ZNMC administration assures the public that this temporary holding facility and all parts of the ZNMC building are regularly cleaned to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene.'

Locals said the temporary holding facility has since been demolished.

Hospitals in the poverty-stricken and chronically-corrupt Philippines face issues like overcrowding, understaffing, and inadequate funding, leading to long patient wait times, poor hospital infrastructure, and limited access to quality healthcare.

The problem is further highlighted in rural areas, where residents must travel long distances to access better-equipped hospitals in cities.