AN alliance of health workers on Friday has nudged the national government to provide its concrete solutions against COVID-19 as the surge of infections puts the Philippine healthcare system under strain.
According to the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC), the country’s response to curb the rise in positive cases is not sufficient as its gathered data—which does not match with the real situation in the healthcare system—causes the government to remain complacent.
“Ang mensahe namin para sa pamahalaan: Ang mga ginagawa natin ngayon upang makontrol ang pandemya ay hindi pa sapat. Ang mga datos na inyong nakukuha ay hindi tugma sa kung ano ang tunay na nangyayari sa mga komunidad at ospital,” the HPAAC said in a statement.
The HPAAC emphasized that hospitals and its employees can no longer respond effectively to the needs of their patients, an apparent situation of the country brought by the woes of the disease.
The alliance admitted that as much as health workers want to accommodate all patients, the rising number of COVID-19 cases builds pressure to health facilities, leaving them with no choice but to witness patients die even without stepping foot in a hospital.
“Umaapaw na po ang mga tao sa Emergency Departments, hanggang pasilyo at parking lot ng mga ospital. Maraming hindi na nakakaabot at namamatay na lamang sa bahay o sa sasakyan habang palipat-lipat na naghahanap ng bakanteng kama,” the health alliance stated.
Along with the scarcity of health resources to help COVID-19 patients, the HPAAC expressed that healthcare workers also experience fatigue and distress which leads them to resign and leave the service.
“Maraming healthcare workers ang pagod, umiiyak, naglalabas ng galit, o nagreresign na sa trabaho. Nagdudugo ang puso namin, at humihingi kami ng patawad, sa mga pasyenteng kinakailangang tanggihan dahil ‘di na kayang ma-admit,” they added.
The health group then recommends solutions, anticipating their call will push the government to move on its own.
HPAAC’s suggestions are as follows:
• Contact tracing needs to be digitized and centralized which can be best operated by technology experts of the country.
• Strengthen the coordination of local government units (LGUs) and hospitals in One Hospital Command Center.
• Ensure the safety of Filipinos by strictly imposing guidelines for transportation or travel and in the workplace.
• Immediately release benefits for healthcare workers
Last September 1, health workers, wearing protective medical gear, first marched in protest to seek the release of their special risk allowance (SRA), hazard pay, and the resignation of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque following its alleged negligence in handling funds for COVID-19 response.
Concerned that their continuous request will be perceived as an attack, the HPAAC clarified that their demand is not to start any conflict with anyone but to let the Filipino people know that the situation within the healthcare system is now getting out of hand.
Healthcare workers, however, firmly said that they will continue the fight against the virulent virus and that with unity, they assured to end the battle.