Frontliners’ safety = patients’ safety

Photo: AFP

HEALTHCARE workers, who represent 2% to 3% of the world’s population (World Health Organisation figures for 2020), are undoubtedly on the front lines in battling the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Their sacrifices have ensured that patients’ safety is top priority as they endeavour to reduce suffering and save lives.

However, being on the front lines of this battle has made them the group that is most vulnerable to infection. The WHO reports that about 14% of Covid-19 cases in 2020 were among healthcare workers. In some countries, the proportion was as high as 35%. In Malaysia, 2% of infected cases were healthcare workers, while in the United States, the figure has spiralled to nearly 570,000 and more than 3,000 have succumbed to the virus.