COVID-19 compensation covers sickness, death benefits
THE Department of Budget and Management has released P1.081 billion to the Department of Health for the grant of sickness and death benefits to both healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-healthcare workers (non-HCWs) in public and private health care facilities, who have been infected or may contract the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in line of duty this year.
The release of the fund was made after the DBM and DOH issued the guidelines on the implementation of the grants, through Joint Circular 2022-0002, last May 12.
The DBM-DOH circular said that “to recognize the invaluable services of our HCWs and non-HCWs in COVID-19 response, it is imperative to continue the grant of COVID-19 sickness and death compensation to eligible personnel as they remain vulnerable to COVID-19 while in line of their duty.”
The funds, which were charged against the regular budget of the DOH under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, will e transferred by the DOH to DOH-retained and corporate hospitals, DOH treatment and rehabilitation centers, and centers for health development, among other attached agencies and institutions.
Compensation claims will be filed and processed based on the claimant’s place of assignment and designated processing offices.
The budget department in February released P7.92 billion for the allowance of public and private HCWs and other personnel involved in the COVID-19 response.
Last month, President Duterte signed into law a measure giving continuous benefits to all public and private HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies.
The May 12 joint DBM-DOH circular says HCWs and non-HCWs who contracted mild or moderate COVID-19 infection will be compensated P15,000 while those with severe or critical cases will receive P100,000.
The families of HCWs and non-HCWs who died due to COVID-19 while in line of duty will receive P1 million.
The grant is on top of allowances already provided to HCWs who are directly involved or are rendering service to address COVID-19. In previous years, a similar fund was charged to the “Bayanihan” funds.
Those eligible for the grant are HCWs and non-HCWs in healthcare facilities who contracted COVID-19 while in the line of duty during the current state of calamity, and HCWs and non-HCWs who are occupying regular, temporary, coterminous, contractual, or casual positions, on full-time or part-time basis in in public or private health facilities.
Others eligible for the sickness and death compensations, based on the circular, are:
– HCWs and non-HCWs engaged through contract of service or job order or emergency hired, duly accredited volunteer workers including but not limited to swabbers, vaccinators, encoders, bar coders, contract tracers, ambulance drivers, barangay health emergency response team and barangay health workers provided they are assigned in health facilities and other health-related establishments.
– Medical, allied medical, or technical/administrative personnel assigned in health facilities and other health-related establishments providing medical and related services for the COVID-19 response, who are under the following but not limited to, the Armed Forces, PNP, Department of National Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Coast Guard, among others.
– All eligible HCWs and non-HCWs who are providing clinical, non-clinical, administrative and other related services for the COVID-19 response.
