Ospital ng Biñan health workers getting sick due to long working hours, lack of personnel

MANILA, Philippines — Several health workers in Ospital ng Biñan in Laguna have gotten sick as they, at times, work up to 24 hours due to lack of personnel, the hospital’s medical director admitted on Monday.

“Siguro po ang mga nagkakasakit na po dito sa amin, mga walo hanggang 10 na nakaleave kaya pinagkakasya namin yung oras po at tinutugunan pa rin yung mga kinakailangan ng mga pasyente,” Ospital ng Biñan director Dr. Melbril Alonte said in an interview with Teleradyo.

(The number of those who have gotten sick here are eight to 10 and they are on leave. That’s why we’re trying to work with the time and still responding to the needs of the patients.)

“Usually po ang common na duty nila ay eight hours. Kapag po kinakailangan, umaabot po sila ng 16, nagsstraight po and even 24 hours,” he added.

(Their usual duty is eight hours. But if needed, they work up to 16 hours straight and even 24 hours.)

Earlier, Alonte sought for additional health workers as the hospital was addressing an increasing number of COVID-19 patients, some of them still awaiting admission in a makeshift reception area in its parking lot.

“Sa ngayon po, patuloy naman pong ginagawan ng paraan ng local government. When it comes sa DOH [Department of Health] po, wala pa naman po silang naibibigay [na health workers]. Ngunit we’re hoping, we’re thriving, patuloy po kaming lumalaban,” Alonte said.

(Right now, the local government is trying to find a way. When it comes to the DOH, they have yet to give us additional health workers. But we’re hoping, we’re thriving, we continue to fight.)

Alonte said they are to meet with the DOH on Tuesday to address the shortage of personnel among other concerns.

The province of Laguna remains under the most restrictive enhanced community quarantine until Friday, August 20, in a bid to curb further transmission of COVID-19.

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