THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday assured healthcare workers and other medical frontliners that their health emergency allowances will be paid despite the
lifting of the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19,
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said government will not turn back from its commitment to provide benefits to those who served during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The health emergency allowances shall be given and it’s in the budget,” Herbosa said
at post-SONA discussions.
“We’re just ironing out the efficiency and on how to deliver them to each and every healthcare worker that served in a COVID ward during the past three years,” he added.
President Marcos Jr. over the weekend formally lifted the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19.
Healthcare workers immediately expressed concern, saying the lifting may lead to a stop to their special allowances.
Last month, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said about P12.57 billion out the P19.96 billion in COVID benefits and allowances of healthcare workers remained unpaid.
Herbosa said caring for healthcare workers is part of the government’s efforts to prepare for the next pandemic.
“A good health system is really dependent on how good we take care of our healthcare workers,” he said.
“If they actually stay (in the country) and we take care of them, we will be able to provide a better healthcare system for everyone,” added Herbosa. — Gerard Naval
