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857 health workers to be deployed in COVID-19 referral centers —DOH


An initial 857 healthcare workers would be deployed to three referral hospitals for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday.

The DOH said it had released a memorandum prescribing interim guidelines for the emergency hiring of health personnel amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“The hiring of health personnel is primarily to augment our workforce in health facilities in the regions, provinces, or cities that manage COVID-19 cases,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a statement.

The following order of priority would be observed in the deployment of emergency hires:

  • COVID-19 referral hospitals like the Philippine General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital;
  • Temporary treatment and monitoring facilities for COVID-19 patients;
  • COVID-19 diagnostic facilities;
  • Public hospitals handling COVID-19 patients; and
  • Private hospitals duly designated by the DOH to handle COVID-19 cases.

The health personnel would be hired with contracts of service and would include physicians, nurses, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, radiologic technologists, medical equipment technicians, nursing attendants, administrative assistants or aides, and other personnel, as may be necessary.

All health personnel would be entitled to a monthly salary with a 20 percent premium based on the basic salary regardless of the number of quarantine days per month, protective personal equipment, board and lodging while on duty or on quarantine, psychosocial support, Continuing Professional Development units, medico-legal assistance, and preferential evaluation for DOH vacancies.

On top of that, they would also receive a P500 hazard pay each day whether on duty or under quarantine, group insurance from the Government Service Insurance System, a communication and transportation allowance of P1,000 per month, and benefits under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act such as PhilHealth hospitalization benefits, P100,000 in case of infirmity due to COVID-19, and P1,000,000 in case of death.

Additionally, public workers who were exposed to health risks on the line of duty were also eligible for a one-time special risk allowance of up to 25 percent of their monthly basic pay.

The DOH earlier sent out a call of volunteers for COVID-19 referral centers and contact tracing efforts.

The disease has so far claimed 297 lives and infected over 4,600 people nationwide. — DVM, GMA News

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