Possible shortage of health workers looms
MANILA – Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire expressed concerns over the possibility of a shortage of health workers should the number of COVID-19 affected employees continue to rise.
In a press briefing, Undersecretary Vergeire said 1,694 health care workers tested positive for COVID-19 which is about 20 percent of the country’s confirmed cases.
She said about one in every five afflicted with COVID-19 are health workers.
“Should the trend continue there may come a time when we will lack people to take care of the sick,” she added.
The Health official said they have continuously reminded medical front liners to check their inventories of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
Of the total number of health workers found COVID-19 positive, 556 are doctors, 638 are nurses, 104 nursing assistants, 66 medical technologists, 32 x-ray technicians, 18 respiratory therapists, 19 midwives, 14 pharmacists and 237 other health workers.
Undersecretary Vergeire said there are 65 personnel from the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) found positive and 36 have remained quarantined while three others have recovered.
At the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), 45 were confirmed with COVID-19 but 38 have recovered and seven remain in quarantine. Nine others were confirmed with COVID-19 at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City.
Other health facilities that have COVID-19 personnel are Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Mandaluyong Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and Baguio General Hospital.
It was learned 24 physicians and seven nurses died due to COVID-19. (Melo M. Acuña)
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