By Gabriela Baron
The numbers of doctor who have died due to COVID-19 has already reached 21, according to Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP).
PHAP President Rustico Jimenez said it was primarily due to patients lying about their condition or exposure history.
The lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers in private hospitals was also a factor.
"Wag naman lahat ng government hospitals lang ang bigyan nila ng PPEs. (Do not give all the PPEs to government hospitals only)," Jimenez told 24 Oras.
The Department of Health earlier said that the lack of PPEs was a global problem as countries competed with each other over supplies.
"Marami silang sinasabi na dumating na pero actually walang nakukuha yung private hospitals, private consultants tayo, we buy our own kaso wala ring makuha. (Private hospitals do not receive PPEs, we buy our own. But at this point, it's hard to buy supplies)," Jimenez added.