THE Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) yesterday sounded the alarm over the slash in the budget in Personnel Services (PS) for 10 hospitals under the Department of Health (DOH), saying it will likely lead to further understaffing in public health institutions.

In a statement, the AHW said the P369 million cut in the PS budget of 10 hospitals is unacceptable.  

“Does the government plan to reduce the number of health workers in these hospitals? Cutting the PS budget will exacerbate the already dire staffing shortages in public hospitals,” the AHW said, adding the general public would suffer.  

“As a result, the delivery of quality services to the patients will be significantly affected,” it added.

PS refers to the provisions for the payment of salaries, wages, and other compensation and benefits of health workers.

Included in the list of DOH hospitals facing PS budget cuts, according to AHW, are the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center (P23.4 million), Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital (P271.7 million), National Center for Mental Health (P4.4 million), National Children’s Hospital (P18 million), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (P2.3 million).

Also on the list are the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital/Tala (P39 million), Basilan General Hospital (2.3 million), Sulu Sanitarium (P378,000.00), Davao General Hospital (P4.1 million), and Soccsksargen General Hospital (P402,000.00).

AHW said it is concerned that hospitals would be forced to hire contractual workers to compensate for the workforce shortage.

“The DOH continues to hire contractual health workers and this is another concerning issue in our ranks,” it said.

This, the group said, was in stark contrast to the call of health workers for more regular hospital personnel.

“We have been calling for mass hiring of permanent health workers to augment the lack of manpower in public hospitals and other health facilities,” said AHW.