The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said that its mission to lead the country in creating a productive, resilient, equitable and people-centered healthcare system, where healthcare workers are an integral part.
The agency said in a statement that it cannot take the healthcare workers’ welfare out of the equation in realizing the goals of a Universal Health Care system, especially in a national state of public health emergency where they are most needed.
“We are taking the issue of delayed benefits very seriously. When matters like this come to our attention, we conduct thorough investigations and concerned offices are made to answer to the Secretary and develop solutions to improve the delivery of services and expedite processes,” the statement read.
The statement further adds that many in the DOH, being health workers, including members of the Executive Committee, have experienced working on the ground and in health facilities. “This is why we understand the challenges in the frontlines—being overworked, underpaid, demoralized, and in this pandemic, even more vulnerable.”
The Active Hazard Duty Pay (AHDP) and Special Risk Allowances (SRA) under Bayahinan 1, the DOH statement said, are based on the savings of hospitals and only covers frontliners who reported for duty during the Enhanced Community Quarantine from March 15 to May 16.
Considering that other hospitals do not have savings, DOH also allotted P51.9 million which has been released to 17 DOH-retained hospitals who requested for additional funding.
For Bayanihan 2, the AHDP and SRA were allotted through Administrative Orders 35 and 36 issued by the Office of the President last November 16. Subsequently, the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issued Joint Circulars 1 and 2 last November 25 that provides for the P9.2 billion sub-allotment to DOH-retained hospitals, Centers for Health Development (CHDs), and the Ministry of Health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for September to December has already been released this week.
The statement also called on healthcare workers to let the DOH know which health facilities have not yet released their benefits and to file a written complaint to the DOH’s Complaints Handling Unit via email at [email protected]. They should include the name of the concerned health facility, the incident and supporting evidence so the agency can can properly address their concerns.