THE MANGAHAS INTERVIEWS

Patients' deaths taking toll on doctors' mental health amid pandemic, expert says

Medical workers, the frontliners of the country's health response system, are facing mental health issues as they spend extended working hours in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Nemuel Fajutagana of the Medical Action Group told veteran journalist Malou Mangahas that health workers' mental health is aggravated by the death of COVID-19 patients under their care.

"Doctors are faced with a very difficult situation. Hindi lang doktor, health professionals. In the face of death, impending death, maaaring malapit sa'yo 'yan, maaaring hindi malapit sa'yo," Fajutagana said on The Mangahas Interviews.

(Not only doctors but also health professionals. In the face of death, impending death, the person could be someone you know or it could be anyone.)

"Pero sa katotohanan siya ay isang buhay. At lahat ng iyong ginawa, ibinigay mo na at siya pa rin ay papanaw ay by itself already a stressful situation for us," he added.

(But the truth is, it is still a human life. And even as you did everything and the patient still died, it is already a stressful situation for us.)

With hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, Fajutagana said medical workers are also carrying the responsibility of deciding who are admitted in health facilities as they do triage.

Further, he said health workers are also worried about their salaries and their long hours on duty.

"Poproblemahin mo pa kung kailan ka makakasahod nang matino, poproblemahin mo pa kung wala ka nang kasunod sa duty mo... Pero hindi po na nga inintindi 'yon kasi kailangan mong gawin 'yung serbisyo," said Fajutagana.

(You are also hoping whether you will get better pay, or whether someone will replace you after your duty. But you have to set these worries aside because you need to be of service.)

On Wednesday, health workers from various hospitals held a protest rally in front of the Department of Health (DOH) office in Manila demanding the release of their benefits including the special risk allowance (SRA), active hazard duty pay, and allowances for meals, accommodation, and transportation. -- Consuelo Marquez/BAP, GMA News