Group to DOH: ‘Hire, train more medical workers before it’s too late’
Health workers wearing protective suits attend to a patient outside the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center during an enhanced community quarantine to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Manila, Philippines on Monday April 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) urged the Department of Health (DOH) to employ and train more health workers as hospitals continue to record overworked health personnel during the coronavirus disease outbreak.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the chronic understaffing of health workers which is a big factor in rendering poor quality health services. Our frontline health workers are tired and exhausted by working 12 hours duty a day, without additional benefits and living wage,” AHW President Robert Mendoza said in a Labor Day statement.
“Thus, we urge the DOH to immediately hire and train more permanent health workers now before it’s too late,” he added.
AHW said health workers are given Salary Grade 1 or Utility Worker (SG1) or just P11,551 monthly salary even when they play vital roles in health centers.
Another health group raised the issue of low salaries with most health workers living below minimum wage.
“Our sworn duty is to save lives at all costs. But how can we be more productive in our work if many in our ranks are living below minimum wage and yet are ones facing the deadly virus in the hospitals. It’s just right that we deserve a living wage and just benefits,” Cristy Donguines, president of Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center Employees Union-Alliance of Health Workers.
