Senator Risa Hontiveros has backed hospital associations in urging the Department of Health (DOH) to allow the emergency mass hiring of nurses as hospitals remain full due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.
Hontiveros said the DOH should treat private hospitals as partners and should support their call for private hospitals to increase capacity through the mass hiring of nurses.
“It is because of a human resource shortage, not limited bed capacities, that hospitals remain overwhelmed.”
The veteran legislator cited the statement of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. that it is because of a human resource shortage, not limited bed capacities, that hospitals remain overwhelmed.
“Our hospitals need the Health Department’s support, not threats. They have time and time again expressed exactly what they need, but have been ignored. Ano ba ang problema, at kailan aaminin ng DOH na meron?” the seasoned lawmaker said.
“Nurses aren’t superhuman after all.”
“Mass hiring of nurses will ensure that more people are attended to. This will also give time for health workers who have been battling in the trenches to rest, re-energize and up their immune systems. They aren’t superhuman after all,” the lady senator stressed.
She urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH) to pay COVID-19 reimbursements to hospitals.
Hontiveros said some hospitals refused to treat COVID-19 patients because of PHILHEALTH’s non-payment.
She also said that the DOH should not hold back on utilizing wisely and efficiently the budget it has at its disposal like the P13.5 billion-budget for healthcare workers’ benefits and protection under Bayanihan 2.
Hontiveros said one of the reasons why health workers might be averse to working in COVID-19 wards is the lack of protection and the low and delayed pay.
“The resources are in the hands of the DOH. What have they been doing with them after all this time? They should immediately pay what is due to our health workers already and use the money to pay for consistent testing and free protective gear. The DOH should have a massive roll-out of all benefits for health workers, to prove to health workers that they can be trusted with their lives and livelihood, ” she said.
“Babad na tayo sa utang sa mga ospital at health workers. Ang bayaran ng utang hindi dinadaan sa utang na loob. If we keep on breaking our promises to our healthcare workers, it will cost us all our lives,” Hontiveros concluded.