Guidelines on P1M benefit for health workers who died due to COVID-19 still being crafted, says DOH exec

The guidelines regarding the release of monetary compensation for health workers who succumbed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still being ironed out, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Friday.

"Ito pong ating listahan ng health workers na nasawi at saka nagkasakit mayroon na kami. Sa kasalukuyan po, pinagtatrabahuhan pa lang po ang guidelines natin," Vergeire said at a press briefing in Malacanang.

She said the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Labor and Employment, Civil Service Commission, and the DOH are coordinating for the release of the death and sickness benefits provided in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

"Magbibigay po tayo ng impormasyon in the coming days kapag nabuo na po natin 'yung ating guidelines for this," Vergeire said.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, public and private health workers shall receive a compensation of P100,000 each should they contract "severe" COVID-19 while in the line of duty.

Medical workers who died while performing their duties to combat the spread of COVID-19 shall also be entitled to P1 million each. This provision has a retroactive application from February 1, 2020.

All public health workers must also be given a "COVID-19 special risk allowance," in addition to their hazard pay.

As of April 22, there were 26 health care workers who died in the country while on the frontlines of fighting the global pandemic. Nineteen of them were doctors.

A total of 1,062 medical workers in the Philippines have contracted the virus, according to the DOH.—AOL, GMA News