DOH working to distribute COVID-19 sickness, death benefits for health workers

The Department of Health (DOH) is working to begin the distribution of benefits for healthcare workers who died from or fell ill with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a health official said Wednesday after senators expressed dismay over the department’s slow implementation of the law.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH is crafting a joint administrative order with the Budget and Labor Departments to implement Section 4(f) of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which mandates a P100,000 benefit for health workers with COVID-19 and P1 million for those who succumb to the disease.

She said the joint order will be finalized within the week.

“In preparation for its immediate implementation, our public assistance unit has been calling the heirs of 32 healthcare workers for the submission of necessary documents to claim the benefits,” Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing.

She added that the DOH is gathering information on COVID-19-positive health workers in severe condition to inform them of the benefit.

Several senators earlier chided the DOH after learning that no health worker has yet received the benefits mandated by law. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also sent Health Secretary Francisco Duque III a strongly-worded letter over the DOH’s failure to distribute the benefits. 

As of June 1, 2,669 health workers have contracted COVID-19, 1,438 of whom have recovered while 32 have died. -NB, GMA News