Shortage of PPE Due to COVID-19 Driving Innovation by RT in The Philippines

There has been an extraordinary demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) with the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2), leaving some resource-challenged areas without adequate PPE. However, necessity is the mother of all invention, and clinicians in several countries have posted on social media channels how they are overcoming their shortages by making their own PPE.

One example of this is from Dodge Moises, who works as a radiology technologist at Sen. Gerardo M. Roxas Memorial District Hospital in Iloilo City, Philippines. He said the PPE stocks are in very limited supply so the hospital could only issue RTs two sets of PPE. However, the RTs at the hospital found a way to supplement this supply with their own improvised PPE.

Moises used some of the hospital's spoiled X-ray film with the emulsion stripped off, foam packing material, elastic and a glue gun to make his own face masks. Some staff also are using rain coats they can sanitize and reuse as a substitute hazmat suit. 

Improvised PPE face mask worn by radiology technologist Dodge Moises at Sen. Gerardo M. Roxas Memorial District Hospital in Iloilo City, Philippines. It was made from expired X-ray film and PVC.

Improvised PPE face mask being made by radiology technologist Dodge Moises in Iloilo City, Philippines. It was made from expired X-ray film, foam packing material and elastic. #COVID19 #coronavirus #SARScov2

Improvised PPE face masks and rain coats being worn by radiology technologists in Iloilo City, Philippines.