Health worker rues delayed, inadequate pay for pandemic ‘heroes’

A healthcare worker said being called heroes in this pandemic is pleasant to hear, but added he hopes they would also be treated as one with adequate pay and benefits.

In Julia Medina’s report on “Stand for Truth,” Edwin Pacheco, the leader of the Healthcare Workers Alliance at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, said they have not yet received some of their allowances from last year.

“Maganda lang po pakinggan na hero kami pero sa totoo lang po mas maganda na po ‘yung ordinaryo na lang kami basta ‘yung sahod namin ay sapat at on time ang pagbibigay ng benepisyo,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco questioned how healthcare workers could be heroes if authorities failed to provide them with adequate compensation.

“Papaano naging hero ang mga health workers kung pinapahirapan mo naman sa pagbibigay ng sahod, sa pagbibigay ng benepisyo ang mga nagtatrabaho na ito na mga health workers,” he said.

Dr. Anna Tuazon, a clinical psychologist, said it would be a heavy responsibility on healthcare workers to protect and care for patients while also fighting against COVID-19.

“So okay lang ang stress, pero hindi dapat relentless, walang tigil. Now, how do we describe the pandemic, and how do we describe the medical response, so parang walang tigil, sunod-sunod,” Tuazon said.

According to Tuazon, this may lead to burnout.

“The experience of death has been hardest on them. It also makes their work that much more exhausting, especially in a situation where, di ba, sometimes it’s so dire that they have to make very hard decision,” she said.

“They face so many frustrating situations so definitely burnout. I won’t even say it’s possible, I’d say it’s happening,” she added.

A study by the Department of Health (DOH) showed that healthcare workers experience stress spikes before, during and after their duties.

Based on the experts' observation, healthcare workers experience anxiety on what would happen while starting their day. During their duty, they would experience the pressure of the job and the fear of being infected.

After their duty, healthcare workers also fear that they may be carriers of the virus and will transmit the illness to their families and loved ones.

The study also showed that little interventions such as breathing exercises, words of encouragement, and support systems improve the mental health of healthcare workers.

From January 1 to March 15 this year, the National Center for Mental Health received 3,006 calls for psychosocial consultation and support.

“No therapy can replace human, balanced work hours, adequate rest, and financial stability and security, di ba? Puwede nating i-therapy nang i-therapy but the real problems persist. Medyo band-aid lang ‘yun,” Tuazon said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News