The Philippines, being a third world country, has great concerns in the healthcare system even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The scenario in some public hospitals is not quite good with overflowing admitted patients, some are occupying the hallways of the hospital just to be admitted and monitored by doctors. With the surge of COVID-19 early in 2020, the country and the global community were caught off-guard. Countries were overwhelmed with the health emergency even the developed countries. In the Philippines, this health crisis event aggravated the pre-pandemic situation and is very evident that the country was not prepared beforehand to face the challenges of the pandemic. The following presents the healthcare system situation in the Philippines:
1. Equipment and facility
It has been an ever-growing concern of every hospital in the Philippines whether private or the government sector on the shortage of COVID testing kits that is necessary to monitor the health of the patients. Availability of medical-grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) fell short resulting in diminishing the healthcare workforce as they were also infected and placed under quarantine status. Recently, this has been resolved with the appropriation of funds and assistance from non-government organizations, civil society organizations and people’s organizations.
2. Scarcity of employed health personnel
Hospitals also reported inadequate staffing especially in the number of nurses and medical technologists, these two professions were very crucial in the process of healing the sick. While doctors were very hesitant to act and address the needs of the infected individuals as this was new to every one of us during the 1st quarter of the year 2020. Studies were not established and there was no cure or vaccine at the early phase of the COVID spread.
3. Availability of vaccines
It was not new for all of us that vaccines are our only way to save us from COVID threats. And all our healthcare workers should be the priority to receive the first dose of vaccines. Although there were a lot of worries and concerns accompanying the rolling out of vaccination such as its unknown reverse reactions which recently have been reporting the increased risk of morbidity related to the vaccinations.
Today, we are full of uncertainties and worries in our country but we have to stand still and help our healthcare team to fight against this devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Concerted efforts must be made by all knowing that our health system is on the brink of exhaustion to accommodate those infected by the virus. As the tagline of the Bayanihan Act says… “We Can Heal as One”, together we need to win the battle against this invisible enemy by doing our part through the habit of responsibly observing COVID guidelines and protocols in our family and in the community.
NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar
References:
1. Hospital experiences responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of the National Pulse Survey March 23-27, 2020
https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-20-00300.pdf
2. Hospital report challenges in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
https://ascopost.com/news/april-2020/hospitals-report-challenges-in-responding-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/