Philippine General Hospital’s Human Resources for Health: A Case Study on Its Current Situation and Its Issues on Safety and Well-being

Abstract

Health is a fundamental human right that should be enjoyed by everyone at the highest attainable standard. One of the key factors to attain this goal is the healthcare workers. The health workforce is also critical in attaining any population health goal, particularly the Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) #3: Good Health and Well-Being. The health workforce should have an adequate size and skills aligned to the targets of SDGs to attain them. However, the attainment of SDGs is hindered by shortages in the health workforce. To fulfill their role, healthcare workers sacrifice their safety and well-being. Using an exploratory case study design, the study adapted a mixed Transactional model of stress and coping and Job Demands-Resources to determine the current situation and the issues on their safety and well-being of nurses and nursing attendants in the Philippine General Hospital. The results showed that the PGH has been experiencing nursing attendant and nurse shortages and understaffing in almost all the departments. These shortages and understaffing have greatly increased their workload, causing a decline in their safety and well-being. Moreover, the lack of collaboration and empathy also affects their well-being. They have been becoming more susceptible to stress, anxiety, depression, injuries, accidents, and illnesses. Hence, addressing the issue of shortages and understaffing in public hospitals is necessary. Failure to do so jeopardizes the safety and well-being of healthcare workers, perpetuating a cycle of compromise in patient care quality and staff welfare.