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Gov’t short of 3,000 health workers amid COVID-19 pandemic


The government is in need of 3,000 health care workers across different professions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Monday. 

Vergeire made the statement after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III appealed to Filipino health care workers—including those banned by the government to work abroad as health care workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic—to apply under the government’s emergency hiring program.

Only 25 have applied so far.

“We need 10,468 health workers across for different professions, and we are still short of 3,000 healthcare workers,” Vergeire said in an ANC interview.

Vergeire then said that the government expects to fill these vacancies with the expected passage of the Bayanihan 2 law which provides the following incentives for health care workers: 

  • hazard pay; 
  • special risk allowance;
  • health insurance; and 
  • free accommodation and transportation.

 

“Aside from new hires, this will apply to existing and new health workers in the public and private sector, and so we hope and that they will able to apply and join us in this fight against COVID-19,” Vergeire added.

The Philippines has recorded 189,601 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 131,367 recovered while 2,998 died. 

The number of active cases is at 55,236. —KG, GMA News

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