Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak rapidly spread throughout the world causing a public health crisis globally. Reports of health care workers (HCWs) being infected by the SARS-CoV-2 began during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic (Costantino et al., 2021). Among the highest population at risk of exposure to the virus were the HCWs (Sabetian et al., 2021). Personal exposure because of close proximity for many hours to patients with COVD-19 on the frontline puts the HCWs at a higher risk of infection, increasing the probability for spread (Black et al., 2020). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 80,000 and 180,000 HCWs could have died from the COVID-19 in the period between January 2020 and May 2021 (WHO, 2021).
HCWs’ experience with the “delta variant” outbreak in 2021 is similar to the most recent surge of “omicron variant” in the National Capital Region (NCR), Philippines. Despite having the world’s strictest and longest lockdown, COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the Philippines See, AB (2021, March 15). In January 2022, the National Department of Health (DOH) reported 39,004 new COVID-19 cases in the Philippines bringing the country’s total caseload to 3,168,379 (DOH, 2022, Philippine). Amid the recent surge of COVID-19 cases worldwide, HCWs are experiencing serious concerns for their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being while trying to deliver quality medical care (Corpuz, 2021b). In their recent editorial published in this journal, Chirico and Magnavita (2021) rightfully emphasized the importance of addressing “The Crucial Role of Occupational Health Surveillance for Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” This article presents the experiences of health care workers in the Philippine context. Amnesty International (2021) reported that in the Philippines, thousands have struggled to access adequate health care because hospitals remain at risk of being overwhelmed following a recent surge in hospitalizations and new COVID-19 cases in January 2022. At that time, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), a major COVID-19 referral hospital in Manila, called for staff augmentation because 400 HCWs fell ill with COVID-19 (CNN Philippines Staff, 2022, January 10). The remaining HCWs were vulnerable during the omicron surge. According to the DOH’s (2022) latest data, during the omicron variant surge 41% of isolation beds and ward beds and 38% of intensive care unit beds nationwide were occupied. The PGH was operating in a crisis mode because 40% of its HCWs were infected with the virus. HCWs have raised the alarm about hospitals being overwhelmed due to the lack beds and insufficient health personnel. HCWs were also experiencing unpaid benefits, lack of medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE), and unpaid special risk allowance and hazard pay due to corruption (Amnesty International, 2021). Specific measures to protect the HCWs and those most at risk must be taken without further delay.
As the Philippines dealt with the fresh surge in infections caused by the highly transmissible omicron variant, HCWs who were on the front lines suffered from poor working conditions and delayed benefits. As a result, many hospitals in the Philippines experienced mass resignations, aggravating a shortage of manpower and exposing the poor working conditions of HCWs in the Philippines. Globally, there were not enough HCWs even before the COVID-19, with an estimated 18 million person shortfall especially in low-income and middle-income countries. Governments can build facilities, emergency hospitals and facilities, buy thousands of ventilators and vaccines, but without HCWs, they are useless. The WHO (2020a) estimates a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030 to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A vast number of HCWs are needed now and for the post-COVID-19 pandemic.
While much has been reported in the literature on the very real challenges faced by HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to provide concrete solutions to the problems they are facing. The WHO (2021) calls for immediate and concrete action to protect the well-being of HCWs. First, we need to strengthen the data collection and reporting of infections, illnesses and deaths among the HCWs due to COVID-19. HCWs must be protected from the COVID-19 infection through a “risk-assessment process leading to a specific preventive measures that include health surveillance of workers and effective personal protective equipment (PPE)” (Chirico & Magnavita, 2021). Second, we need to protect the health and well-being of our HCWs during the global pandemic and post-pandemic. HCWs typically experience a diverse range of psychological and psychosocial problems such as depression, apprehension, fatigue, burnout, fear, and frustration (Corpuz, 2020). We also need to protect our HCWs against discrimination and stigmatization (Corpuz, 2021b). Taking care of the mental health of HCWs directly affects their capacity to fully serve their patients. Third, we need to accelerate the vaccination of all HCWs in all countries including booster shots. Promoting the importance of inoculation and addressing the vaccine hesitancy and misinformation during the pandemic is critical (Corpuz, 2021a). Furthermore, one must realize that HCWs should emphasize the importance of vaccination for the protection of other HCW’s, their families, and their community. Considerable attention to addressing the concerns of HCWs could improve their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being during and after this pandemic. As the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted, “Even if we do everything else right, if we don’t prioritize protecting health workers, many people will die because the health worker who could have saved their life is sick” (WHO, 2020b).
