PRESIDENT Duterte on Monday night ordered the hiring of more medical personnel for the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enable the two agencies to operate 24 hours amid government efforts to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The President, during a recorded public address that late Monday, said that under the COVID-19 crisis, select government agencies like the DOST and the FDA need to double their workforce to be able to operate non-stop. He mentioned medical technologists and new graduates of medicine as among personnel to be hired.
“Magdagdag kayo ng maraming medtech o iyung mga naka-graduate na ng doktor, naghihintay lang ng results, or anybody of — nandiyan sa health services (So add a lot of medtech or the new doctors who are awaiting results of their board exam, or anybody from the health services),” he said.
The President, in a report to Congress, said the Department of Budget and Management last week approved a request of the Department of Health to hire some 15,700 health professionals who will be deployed to government hospitals and laboratories to augment its workforce.
A P2.7-billion fund for the wages and benefits of the new health workers, who will work under a three-month contract, will be sourced from the current DOH budget.
DELIVERY OF MEDICINES, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
President Duterte ordered the speedy delivery of medicines and medical equipment particularly in far-flung areas as part of efforts to contain coronavirus.
The President directed Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., concurrent chief implementer of the National Action Plan against COVID-19, to coordinate efforts in delivering much-needed medical equipment and medicine.
Duterte said the deliveries can be ferried or delivered by plane including government helicopters.
REWARD
The President offered a P20-million reward to any Filipino who could develop a “respirator” for coronavirus patients, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Monday.
Duterte was apparently referring to ventilators which COVID patients need to help them continue to breath if their lungs fail. Since the outbreak last last year, hospitals worldwide have reported a shortage in ventilators.
Roque, quoting the President, said the respirators should “outlast” the lives of the patients.
