COVID-19: Health system burdened, shortage in doctors and nurses

Epidemiologist Dr. Sheena Moosa said on Sunday that as the Maldivian health system does not have a sufficient number of doctors and nurses, as coronavirus cases continue to increase, and as an increasing number of patients require hospitalized treatment.

In an appearance on RaajjeTV’s Habaru Feetha show on Sunday afternoon, Dr. Sheena said that while everyone may be aware of the surge in coronavirus cases and the increase in number of patients who require hospitalized treatment, many may not be aware of the limited number of doctors and nurses available to treat the patients.

“We are talking about the hospital beds because more than 60 percent of the beds in Maldives are now occupied.  But there isn’t any public talk on the shortage of doctors and nurses,” she said.

Dr. Sheena said that the health system had one nurse for every five hospitalized patient under normal circumstances, but with the increase in coronavirus cases, a single nurse now has to cater to 30 hospitalized patients.

She said that working under such conditions will affect the quality of service.

Dr. Sheena said that there is a shortage in both nurses and doctors.

“I have been informed that it takes 10 hours per day to complete a single round in the Hulhumale’ medical facility.  For one single round. This is because of the shortage of doctors,” she said.

Dr. Sheena noted that the health system needs to continue catering to patients suffering from other diseases. She said that recruitment of additional health professionals is not possible at a time when all countries are working to retain health professionals to treat patients in their own countries.

“The point is that the Maldivian health system is burdened, unable to cater. We are managing somewhat. At this rate, even if beds are added or if patients are housed in beds in schools, who will treat them? Lack of treatment will increase fatalities,” she said.

Dr. Sheena said that the international medical teams brought in to Maldives had helped relieve the burden on the Maldivian healthcare system and affected positive changes. And that the major question facing the healthcare system at present is whether it has the capacity to cater to an increasing number of patients who require hospitalized treatment.

She said that high COVID-19 related fatalities had resulted in many of the countries due to healthcare systems being overwhelmed with patients, resulting in a shortage of hospital beds and doctors and nurses to treat them.

Dr. Sheena said the biggest objective for health authorities is to reduce fatalities.

She said that she personally believes the time has come to re-impose a lockdown to control the outbreak.