It is the Department of Health’s mission to lead the country in creating a productive, resilient, equitable and people-centered healthcare system. Integral to this is our healthcare workers – we cannot take their welfare out of the equation in realizing the goals of a Universal Health Care system, especially in the midst of 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. As health workers, many of us in the DOH—including members of our Executive Committee—have experienced working on the ground, in our health facilities, which is why we understand the challenges in the frontline —being overworked, underpaid, demoralized, and in this pandemic, even more vulnerable.

 

The Active Hazard Duty Pay (AHDP) and Special Risk Allowances (SRA) under Bayanahinan 1 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 sub-alloted P51.9 million which has been released to 17 DOH-retained hospitals who requested for additional funding. 

 

For Bayanihan 2, the AHDP and SRA are alloted through the Administrative Order 35 and 36 issued by the Office of the President last November 16. Subsequently,  DOH and DBM issued Joint Circulars 1 and 2 last November 25 which 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 the period of September to December has already been released this week. 

 

To our healthcare workers, please let us know which health facilities have not yet released your benefits and file a written complaint to the DOH – Complaints Handling Unit at [email protected] with the name of the concerned health facility, the incident and supporting evidences so we can properly address your concerns.

 

Again, we are taking this matter very seriously and we welcome any feedback to introduce changes on how we deliver our services. Our people-centered health system does not only respond to the health welfare of the general public but also to the health workers who are with us in attaining this vision and battling this pandemic.