10 doctors died of COVID-19, PMA exec says

Ten doctors have already died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with the reported death of a new one, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said on Friday.

Dr. Jose Santiago Jr., PMA president, however, did not disclose the name of the doctor.

Santiago said that many health care workers, including doctors and nurses, are yet to be subjected to COVID-19 testing.

"We are not yet certain na baka rin ang mga healthcare workers natin o manggagamot ay positive din, we do not know, wala pa tayong ginagawang testing,” he said.

Santiago said the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel should be addressed.

The PMA president, on the other hand, said the workforce of 84,200 doctors all over the country is adequate to respond to the COVID-19 situation.

Santiago said private hospitals in Laguna are ready to open their facilities, in case provincial and district hospitals could no longer accommodate persons under investigation or COVID-19 patients.

The PMA previously announced that at least nine doctors have died due to COVID-19. The ninth was Dr. Sally Gatchalian, president of the Philippine Pediatric Society.—AOL, GMA News