The threat of mass resignations has been hugging the news on television and on print media. To prevent such move to happen, the Department of Health (DOH) appealed to health workers not to pursue with their plan as it is willing to listen to their demands and concerns.
In an interview with Dr. Joselito Trumata, owner of the Christ the Healer Hospital in Sogod, Southern Leyte, he said that there is no mass resignation in his hospital, nor did he notice of this happening in any other hospitals in the province. There are also instances when some nurses do not renew their contract, but a vacancy is filled up eventually, he said. However, there is a shortage of nurses, and their preference is to be employed in the government hospital, Dr. Trumata added.
The health workers in private hospitals here have not also received the announced Special Allowance and insurance benefits for health workers, Dr. Trumata divulged. And he said that he has been lobbying for their release for a while now.
The Southern Leyte provincial hospital (SOYMPH) Chief, Dr. Ionne Lim Castillones, disclosed that the nurses have been receiving their allowances and are also being paid even when they are on quarantine. Nevertheless, she admits that there is a shortage of nurses in the province, and that the provincial hospital is still open to hire more nurses.
Meanwhile, there had also been 20 nurses who left the Living Hope Hospital for this year, according to its Human Relations department.
Health workers in private hospitals and medical institutions in the country are considering mass resignations due to low salaries and lack of benefits, as reported. The DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in turn said that the medical workers’ plan would have a negative effect on the country’s hospitals in this time of need, as the Philippines battles against the surge of infections.
Shortage of nurses, but no mass resignations
