AFTER BACKLASH

DOH makes deployment of Doctors to the Barrios to Cebu City voluntary

The deployment of Doctors to the Barrios (DTTB) to Cebu City, considered as the likely epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, will be on a voluntary basis, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday.

Vergeire made the announcement after the DTTB slammed a Department of Health (DOH) order temporarily transferring rural health physicians in Regions 6 and 7 to private hospitals in Cebu City to bolster its COVID-19 response.

“Iyong sa DTTB deployment po, iyong willing po at amendable, those are who are going to be deployed. Para po mapabilis, voluntary po muna,” Vergeire said.

In opposing the order, DTTB said it was made without consultation and provision of clear protocol and will ultimately deprive the rural areas of much needed healthcare assistance amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We wanted to exhaust our programs because there was a need, may cry for help. It is quite disheartening kasi nasa public emergency tao at sana iyong commitment ng government workers are there. But nevertheless, nakapag-decide tayo na this will be voluntary para walang issue for the meantime,” said Vergeire.

Vergeire said they initially wanted to deploy 40 doctors from DTTB to Cebu City divided in four batches and on two-week rotation, but the figure is a moving target amid the concerns raised by group.

“Sa pakikipag-usap natin sa kanila, meron pong tatlong buntis, at may ibang areas na walang maiiwan na doktor. As of last Sunday, we were looking at 26. And with the turn of events, it was decided na voluntary muna and we are finalizing kung ilan talaga ang ready to be deployed,” she said.

Cebu City has over 5,000 COVID-19 cases and has been recording 10 to 13 COVID-19 deaths per day, according to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who has been tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to oversee the government’ COVID-19 response in Cebu.

Cebu City is the lone area in the country under enhanced community quarantine, a protocol which bans mass transport, mass gathering and non-essential work.

The Philippines has 36,438 COVID-19 cases thus far. Of this number, 9,956 recovered while 1,255 died. —KBK, GMA News