THE PHILIPPINE Medical Students’ Association, the Kabataan Party-list, and medical university organizations, among others called for support to ensure the health and safety of clinical clerks and interns.

The PMSA spearheaded a petition and called for signatories to back the appeal for support for clinical clerks and interns who are on duty in hospitals.

The groups requested for free Covid19 testing for students who have been exposed to the virus. They also called for free and sufficient PPE and free medical care.

The PMSA stressed the need to make institutions fully accountable. It said that students who miss activities because they had to isolate themselves should not receive academic penalty.

“It is in this light that we, medical students, different medical and allied health councils, organizations, and individuals, strongly appeal to prioritize the health and safety of clerks and interns and uphold previously released guidelines to ensure these,” the group said.

The association noted that there are 31 hospitals currently conducting limited face-to-face rotation. Out of 1,193 clerks, 75 tested positive, while out of 1,740 interns, 223 tested positive.