The group of health workers is calling for additional frontliners now that hospitals are still struggling to keep up with the pandemic, even amid the drop in COVID-19 cases.
Based on the monitoring of the Alliance of Health Workers, hospitals such as the National Kidney Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center, as well as San Lazaro Hospital are still struggling.
In other hospitals, the number of patients has been reduced, but the workload and working hours are still excessive due to the lack of staff.
“Sa kanilang mga duties sa kasalukuyan, wala pang nagbabalik sa 8 hours. Sixteen hours pa rin at the same time ‘yung iba 24 hours dahil nga maraming nagkakasakit na health workers,” said AHW President Robert Mendoza.
“Dapat nga magdagdag pa nga, magkaroon ng mass hiring kasi marami sa ating mga health workers nag-resign na. Wala nga daw nag-a-apply sabi ko nga: paano mag-a-apply ‘yung mga health workers na ‘yan eh as contractuals [ang hiring] so wala silang benefits. Imagine buhay nila ang isasalang nila du’n sa mga COVID facilities na ito, pero wala kang benefits?” he added.
Group of health workers requests for more frontliners
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III previously noted that the utilization of COVID-19 ward beds has dropped to 49 percent from the previous 57 percent.
The utilization rate of intensive care unit beds will reach 61 percent from 68 percent. The number of hospitals in Metro Manila has also been reduced.
However, according to the secretary, ICU needs are still high.
“Nananatiling nasa critical at high risk ang ICU utilization rate ng ilang lokalidad sa NCR. Kaya naman po aming hinihikayat ang mga NCR hospitals, sa tulong ng One COVID Referral Center, na panatilihin ang kasalukuyang healthcare capacities lalo na po ang ICU capacities upang manatili tayong handa sa mga surge na maaaring mangyari muli,” said Duque.
At the Philippine General Hospital, their COVID-19 patients have dropped to 172. Their COVID-19 ward has a 250-bed capacity.
“Siguro ibig sabihin nu’n nagluluwag na rin sa ibang ospital kaya na-admit na rin po ‘yung ibang pasyente doon, so overall ganu’n pa rin po ay bumababa ang bilang ng COVID [patients],” said PGH Spokesperson Jonas Del Rosario.
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