THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said it is validating reports of some 80,000 barangay health workers (BHWs) being dismissed after the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
In a statement, the DOH said it has directed its field personnel to verify the claim of BHW party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co that at least 80,000 BHWs have been dismissed by newly-elected barangay officials.
“We are now in close coordination with the DOH regional BHW coordinators and BHW federation officers,” said the DOH.
In addition, the agency said it is in close coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
This, the DOH said, is to reiterate the provisions of the DILG-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2023-001 on the “Retention and Continued Service of BHWs”.
“The DILG shall issue an advisory to inform local government units on the existence and compliance to the DILG-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2023-001,” said the DOH.
Last week, Co reported the dismissal of at least 80,000 BHWs across the country allegedly without due process and in disregard of the joint memorandum circular.
According to the DOH, as of December 5, it has not received any official complaints regarding the dismissal of barangay health workers.
