Music therapy used in some hospitals to uplift spirit of health workers, patients amid pandemic

Amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, some hospitals have started using music therapy to uplift the spirit of their healthcare workers and patients alike.

In The Medical City in Pasig, musicians come to play live music in the hallways, serenading the hospital for hours. The music can be heard all over the hospital thanks to its sound system facility.

According to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras," Thursday, Medical City consultant director Dr. Jo Ann Soliven thought of the idea as a way to help them ease the stress of frontliners and patients.

"We thought of having this serenade as music therapy for all of us—both the healthcare providers and our patients who are awake—even those who are not awake," she said.

Soliven said they opted for live music because it gives a different kind of relaxation.

"It's proven that music has an effect to reduce stress and uplift the well-being of an individual," he said.

She added that they will continue the initiative in other branches of the hospital.

"We agreed, the doctors here, especially in the ICU, that we will continue this undertaking dedicated for our staff and of course, to our patients," she said.

In The Medical City's South Luzon branch, healthcare workers like nursing assistant Madeleine Almendras play music themselves and even jam with their patients.

At a time when medical professionals and COVID-19 patients are the only ones who can interact with each other, music has helped keep them afloat as they wait for better days to come.

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News