A group of nurses discouraged the plan of some healthcare workers to go on mass resignation amid the country’s ongoing battle against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“As much a possible, we don’t encourage them na gawin yan kasi ang maaapektuhan po ang pasyente, yung beneficiary ng care ng ating healthcare workers (As much as possible, we don't encourage them to do that because it will affect the patients),” said Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) National President Melbert Reyes in an interview with ABS-CBN's Teleradyo on Sunday, August 15.

“Pero hindi natin sila masisisi kung gagawin nila yan sapagkat ang pagpapahalaga at malasakit na binibigay ng gobyerno ay hindi talaga nila nararamdaman (But we can't blame them if they do that because they don't really feel the appreciation and concern from the government),” he said.

It was recently reported that healthcare workers from private hospitals threatened to go on mass resignation due to lack of benefits.

Reyes urged the government to increase the salary of nurses in the country and assured them to have a “security of tenure.”

“Ito yung pinakamalaking opportunity na hikayatin yung ating mga nurses outside the nursing field. Napakarami po nating nurses sa ibang larangan lalo na sa call center (This is the biggest opportunity to encourage our nurses outside the nursing field. We have a lot of nurses working in other fields, especially in the call center),” he said.

“Sana mahikayat natin na bumalik sila sapagkat kailangan sila ng ating kapwa Pilipino pero siguro kailangan natin i-review yung inoofer natin sa kanila para naman mahikayat natin sila (I hope we can encourage them to come back because our fellow Filipinos need them. But, maybe we need to first review what we are offering them),” he added.

“Ang gusto ng ating mga nurses ay siguraduhin yung kanilang buhay na pag tinanggap nila yung trabaho ay protektado sila at magkakaroon sila ng magandang buhay dito (What our nurses want is that when they accept the job, they are protected and they will have a better life),” he furthered.

The Department of Health (DOH) expressed willingness to listen to the demands and concerns of healthcare workers.

“Sana po mapag-usapan natin lahat ito pong mga inyong hinanaing para po hindi tayo umabot dito sa mga ganitong action (I hope we can talk about all your concerns so that we don't lead to that kind of action),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday, August 14.

Vergeire said that the plan of some healthcare workers to go on mass resignation will have a negative impact on the country’s healthcare system.

“Ito po ay makakaapekto lalung-lalo na ngayon sa sitwasyon natin na kailangan namin kayo para alagaan ang ating mga kababayan (This will affect our healthcare system, especially now with our current situation--- we need you to take care of our citizens),” she said.