Protesting JRMMC health workers cry neglect; hospital explains side

A group of health workers on Wednesday slammed the government, particularly the Department of Health (DOH), for alleged lack of concern for health workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic and to decry the death of a colleague due to the virus.

“Noong una pa lang, ramdam na ramdam na natin na wala talaga silang malasakit sa mga healthcare worker,” said Cristy Donguines, president of Alliance of Health Workers' (AHW) chapter at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC).

Members of AHW staged a protest on Monday in front of JRRMC to air their grievances to the hospital administration as well as to the DOH.

Interviewed on Unang Hirit, Donguines questioned the DOH's pronouncement that there is enough supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19 patients.

“Ang sinasabi lang ng DOH, ‘sapat, sapat.’ Nasaan ‘yung sapat? Kung hindi po dahil sa mga NGO (non-government organizations) na nagmamalasakit sa atin, hindi po tayo magkakaroon ng sinasabi nilang sapat,” she said.

Aside from supply of PPEs, Donguines said that the hospital workforce is also understaffed. According to her, only two medical workers are handling 20 to 30 COVID-19 cases.

“Talagang understaffing  po tayo kasi talagang  hindi lingid po sa kaalaman natin na talagang marami na pong empleyado natin ang naapektuhan po ng COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

One of the nurses in the hospital, Judyn Bonn Suerte, died due to COVID-19, Donguines said.

Donguines also raised her concerns on the benefits and compensation of healthcare workers.

JRRMC explains side

In a separate interview on Unang Hirit, JRRMMC chief of medical professional staff Dr. Wenceslao Llauderes said they were also saddened by the loss of an employee due to COVID-19.

“Talagang kung mawalan kami ng isang kapwa naming empleyado — actually hindi na po siya namin kapwa empleyado at isang kaibigan ko rin — mabigat sa loob namin na nangyayari ito na may namatay dahil sa COVID,” he said.

Llauderes pointed out that no one is prepared for the pandemic. He said that the director of the hospital has been exerting efforts to meet the needs of the health facility.

He also noted that not only nurses and doctors are needed for the hospital's COVID-19 response but also equipment and medicine supplies.

Llauderes attributed the understaffing problem in the hospital to the lack of interested applicants who would like to work at JMMRRC. He said that they have been receiving very few applications even before the pandemic.

“Ang Department of Health ay may manpower naman na nagbibigay sa amin ng suporta para matugunan 'yung kakulangan nila,” he said.

On the lack of supplies of PPEs, Llauderes explained that the market is "tricky" as it is favoring private hospitals. He also said there are regulations to be followed in purchasing supplies for public hospitals.

Llauderes  agreed with Donguines that healthcare workers deserve more benefits, that the risk allowance should be given constantly and not only on a one-time basis since the COVID-19 risk is still present.

But, he pointed out that the hospital is only the "recipient" of any recommendations of the DOH to the national government when it comes to benefits.

“We are just recipient of whatever recommendations ng Department of Health to Malacañang, kasi ang approving niya ay Malacañang and the recommendatory for the benefits ay the DOH,” Llauderes   said. —KBK, GMA News