Many doctors, nurses and medical workers experience an unexpected ripple effect from the coronavirus outbreak - their pays are being cut.

As hospitals scale down nonemergency operations and treatments to combat the coronavirus pandemic, they are slashing hours, pays and benefits for the workers who engage in those jobs, out of desperation to stem revenue losses.

This decision is leaving hospitals with lesser staff and lower capacity, inspite of the fact that public health officials warn about the rising number of patients and urge retired doctors and others to volunteer to serve in COVID-19 hotspots.

Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access, a statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition said that even though there isn’t a surge now and we don’t need the workforce now, doesn’t mean we won’t need them in the weeks to come. The workforce has to be retained to ensure that we don’t lose capacity.

It’s good that retired doctors are volunteering but there isn’t a substitute for people who are already on the payroll and know the processes - set and ready to go.

U.S. has a market-driven, fragmented health care system. Hospitals and clinics rely on elective procedures for revenue. So, during the pandemic, the need to shift resources to fulfill the need becomes complicated. Hospitals with many people on ventilators will receive high amounts from insurance companies. But clinics not doing essential work could suffer. Insurance premiums can rise too.

Hospitals and health care systems insist that the cuts are painful, but necessary.

Health care workers say the systems haven’t been quick enough to redeploy them where they can serve and help. This might leave fewer doctors, nurses and support staff for Bay Area residents suffering from heart attacks and other emergencies.

If there is a surge in coronavirus patients it will leave hospitals dealing with tragedies similar to New York and Italy, which leaves health care workers, and others struggling to meet ends.

Carmela Coyle, president of the California Hospital Association, said that the present fiscal stress faced by hospitals pales in comparison to the long-term effects of COVID-19 that will wreak on California’s health care system. Post this crisis there will be a need to have a state and national discussion about the impact of COVID-19 on health care and ways to collectively rebuild it.