The Department of Health (DOH) assured that the granting of compensation to health workers infected by COVID-19 is a priority under the Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that the benefit packages for health personnel with mild, severe, and critical COVID-19 cases, as well as those who succumbed to the disease, are covered by the Php 13.5 billion budget of the agency.
“As to the health human resources, mayroon pong proposed budget of 13.5 billion. This is for the emergency hiring na itutuloy pa rin natin, additional health workers (As to the health human resources, we have a proposed budget of Php 13.5 billion. This is for the emergency hiring which will continue for additional health workers),” Vergeire stated.
“Kasama rito sa 13.5 ‘yung special risk allowance for all public and private health care workers. Every month po itong ibibigay (Included in the Php 13.5 billion is the special risk allowance for all public and private health care workers. This will be given every month),” she added.
A budget amounting to Php 4.55 billion was also allocated for the continuous improvement of the health system capacity of hospitals nationwide. At least Php 3 billion of it is dedicated for additional COVID-19 beds, molecular laboratories, and quarantine facilities.
A Php 1 billion fund under the budget allocation of the department is also devoted for the establishment of temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs).
As of Sept. 11, there are 252,964 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 186,606 recoveries and 4,108 fatalities in the country. – Report from Mark Fetalco
