The Association says emergency rooms and healthcare facilities are grappling with an influx of trauma cases of varying severity resulting from violent incidents. This puts an additional burden on an already stretched healthcare system.

“Healthcare facilities are forced to allocate more resources to handle trauma cases, including increased staffing in emergency departments and additional medical supplies. This redirection of resources comes at a time when the world is grappling with ongoing public health challenges, making it crucial to address the root causes of the rise in crime to alleviate the strain on the medical sector,” said the Association’s PRO Dr. Delphina Venor.

Dr. Venor also highlights the mental impact these violent crimes may have on citizens’ day-to-day lives.

“The constant exposure of healthcare workers to these traumatic cases, breaking news to families, and even threats in some cases does not bode well for the mental health of our healthcare workers,” she said.

To that end, the Association is urging the government to continue partnering with other stakeholders to find holistic means of addressing the crime situation.