Gilbert Lazarus, Markus Meyer, Markus Depfenhart, Angela Kimberly Tjahjadi, Santi Rahayu Dewayanti, Iwan Dakota, Bambang Budi Siswanto*
Lazarus et al. J Clin Transl Res 2021; 7(4):13
Published online: July 30, 2021
Abstract
Background and aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has brought deteriorating physical and mental burdens to healthcare workers (HCWs) in Indonesia, mainly attributed to the lack of protection and screening among HCWs, patients' concealment of their travel and medical history, and perceived social stigma and discrimination. Hence, we deliver our perspectives and recommendations based on the current situation in Indonesia to enforce their safeties. We encourage stakeholders to implement a systematic approach by employing stringent prevention strategies, ensuring adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) provision and equitable PPE distribution, and routine HCWs screening to prevent nosocomial clusters, in addition to the provision of psychosocial support to HCWs by offering social aids and psychological sessions. Furthermore, social stigma and discrimination towards HCWs and patients should also be addressed and mitigated, thus preventing concealments of patients’ history and alleviating emotional burdens. We believe that providing continuous support to HCWs would lead to key benefits in ensuring a winning battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Relevance for patients: HCWs are pivotal players in winning the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring their safety and wellbeing will enable them to deliver better healthcare services, thus resulting in mutual benefit for themselves, the patients, and the nation’s recovery.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18053/jctres.07.202104.013
Author affilation
1. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
2. North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
3. Faculty of Medicine, Venlo University B.V, Venlo, Netherlands
4. Pulmonologist, National Cardiovascular Centre Harapan Kita, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
5. Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
*Corresponding author
Bambang Budi Siswanto
Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita. Letjen S. Parman St No.Kav.87, RT.1/RW.8, North Bambu City, Palmerah, West Jakarta City, Jakarta 11420, Indonesia.
E-mail: bambbs@gmail.com
Handling editor:
Michal Heger
Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Department of Pharmaceutics, Jiaxing University Medical College, Zhejiang, China
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