Gatchalian ‘alarmed’ over health workers shortage amid COVID-19 threat

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday said raised concerns over the shortage of health workers nationwide amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat, warning this had serious implications on Filipinos' health.

In a statement, Gatchalian cited figures from the Department of Health (DOH), which the agency also shared in a Senate public hearing, that the Philippines has a shortage of 8,840 doctors nationwide specifically in far-flung rural areas.

Gatchalian also cited Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi's data which found that there were a 19 doctors, nurses, midwives, and medical technologists (private and public) per 10,000 population.

"Nakakabahalang malaman na hindi lamang testing facilities at testing kits ang kulang sa atin ngayong nasa ilalim tayo ng isang public health emergency. Dahil sa kakulangan ng mga doktor, naaapektuhan ang ating kakayahang magbigay ng agarang tulong medikal sa mga kababayan nating nasa panganib tulad na lang ng COVID-19," Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian thus proposed more scholarships that would send “underprivileged” yet deserving students to private institutions to address the shortage of doctors and other medical professionals in the country.

Gatchalian also urged the Department of Health (DOH) to leverage and increase partnerships with private medical schools so these institutions can absorb poor students who were academically deserving, amid the absence of medical schools in state universities and colleges (SUCs). — Jamil Santos/DVM, GMA News