Philippines: Nurses threaten mass resignation amid Covid surge

The Philippines is presently experiencing record-high COVID caseloads pushed by the extremely transmissible delta variant. As hospitals replenish, overworked nurses have staged protests and are threatening mass resignations if authorities advantages aren’t paid by September 1.
At the beginning of the pandemic final yr, the Philippines’ authorities put aside particular threat allowances for well being care employees, which included hazard pay and cash for lodging and transportation.
However, well being care employee unions allege that the promised advantages and compensation haven’t been paid out.
“Health care workers are tired and extremely demoralized. Many have already resigned and many more want to,” mentioned Jao Clumia, union president of St. Luke’s Medical Center, one of many largest non-public hospitals in Manila.
The dispute over payouts stems from a stipulation that solely well being care employees immediately dealing with COVID sufferers are entitled to obtain advantages. However, well being care employees declare that this provision is each unfair and unrealistic.
Could hospitals shut within the Philippines?
“When you work in a hospital during a pandemic like COVID-19, you are exposed to the virus. It’s as if you have one foot in your grave already,” Clumia informed DW. “Our hospitals will close if we don’t address this issue,” he added.
The Philippines Department of Health has pleaded with well being care employee unions to rethink plans for mass resignation.
“We understand their points, but we want to explain to them that there are policies that we have to follow,” Department of Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire mentioned in a press convention.
Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Association (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Director, referred to as on the federal government to make sure that well being care employees obtain ample help.
According to Department of Health information, over 22,000 COVID circumstances had been reported within the Philippines on August 30. The seven-day shifting common of recent circumstances is presently greater than 16,000. Hospital beds are additionally filling up across the nation.
Surge comes amid hospital employees scarcity
The Philippines is likely one of the world’s prime sources for nurses, nonetheless, many hospitals and well being care amenities within the nation are persistently understaffed.
According to labor unions, low wages are a significant deterrent. Many nurses say they would favor to work overseas or in different industries that supply extra aggressive salaries.
“There has always been a chronic understaffing of nurses. This pandemic has just made it worse. Nurses are severely overwhelmed,” mentioned Maristela Abenojar, nationwide president of Filipino Nurses United (FNU), a nationwide labor affiliation for nurses.
She mentioned the FNU has obtained stories of sure hospitals with a scarcity of 100 or extra nurses.
“Some nurses are working 12-hour shifts and caring for as many as 20 patients. They forgo meals and bathroom breaks to save on PPEs. All of this is putting them at increased risk of COVID infection and adding to their fears of catching the disease. Their working conditions are no longer humane,” Abenojar informed DW.
“The government has the funds but health worker benefits and salaries are not prioritized by the health department,” Abenojar added.
Last week, the Philippine General Hospital, the nation’s largest public hospital, introduced that it could shut its emergency room because it was unable to soak up further sufferers.
Long-term nursing options wanted
Cristy Donguines, a nurse on the Jose Rodriguez authorities hospital in Manila, informed DW that her hospital is bracing to soak up a surge of sufferers that may now not be accommodated at different, overflowing hospitals.
Amid the crunch, employees like Donguines say that having to resort to protests and mass resignations for government-promised advantages is each irritating and insulting.
“Does the government think we want to be out on the streets protesting? We would rather be at our hospitals, caring for our patients,” she mentioned.
“We are needed more there, but if we don’t do this, we will not be heard. The government is playing deaf and blind to our pleas. The government should be ashamed of itself,” mentioned Donguines, who additionally heads a neighborhood chapter of the Alliance of Health Workers.

As the pandemic wears on, nurses are calling for long-term options that may worth well being care employees because the spine of the well being care trade.
“We will not stop protesting until we see health care reforms that are badly needed. That includes a just living wage for nurses and continued provision of hazard pay during the pandemic. We’re not asking for too much. This is what was promised to us by law,” mentioned Donguines.