Private hospitals worried over lack of staff, funding in case of post-holiday COVID19 surge
Dec 14, 2020 2:31:01 PM
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) — A private hospitals’ group warned on Monday that there are not enough healthcare workers to accommodate the possible increase in COVID-19 patients after the holiday season.
“Kahit po gusto naming maghire ng additional nurses, ay wala na po kaming ma-hire (We cannot hire any more nurses even if we want to),” Jose Rene de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, told CNN Philippines’ Balitaan.
De Grano said some nurses have resigned due to the coronavirus crisis while others flew to other countries following the lifting of the overseas deployment ban on medical workers.
“Wala na talaga siguro tayong nurses kasi yung iba talaga na may mga kontrata na sa ibang bansa, pinaaalis na po ng gobyerno (Maybe we just don’t have any more nurses because those with contracts in other countries are now being allowed by the government to leave),” he added.
Some of the remaining frontliners have complained about delays in their salaries, as well as the hazard pay and COVID-19 special risk allowance mandated by law.
Private hospitals also lack funding for other resources, De Grano said, citing the “slight delay” in reimbursements made by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth. They are calling on the state health insurer to address this perennial problem.
“Although they (private hospitals) can manage pa po right now; ang problema ‘pag biglang nagkaroon ng surge po,” De Grano said. “Nakikiusap kami na kung maaari ‘yung mga reimbursement naming na mga private hospitals ay maibigay naman sa mga hospitals kaagad.”
[Translation: Although they can still manage right now, there would be a problem in case of a sudden surge (in infections). We are pleading for the reimbursements of private hospitals to be released immediately.]
The Department of Health said it has been preparing for a possible spike in COVID-19 cases come January. These include meeting with regional health offices and medical experts to improve the capacity of hospitals, and setting up contingency plans.
The OCTA Research Team said the reproduction rate in Metro Manila is already at 1.06 as of Monday. This refers to the number of people an infected person can pass the virus on to.
“An Ro below one means the trend in new cases is downward, while an Ro above one means the trend is upward. The increase due to the holidays was very likely,” OCTA Research Team member Guido David told CNN Philippines on Sunday.
The DOH has repeatedly called on the public to limit Christmas and New Year gatherings to household members to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 449,000 nationwide. Health protocols should be observed at all times, including the wearing of face masks and face shields, frequent hand washing, and social distancing.
SOURCE: https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/12/14/private-hospitals-covid-19-post-holiday-surge.html
