VERGEIRE SAYS

Health workers attending to suspect, probable COVID-19 cases also entitled to SRA, hazard pay

Health care workers in the country who are directly attending to COVID-19 patients—including suspect and probable ones—should receive the special risk allowance (SRA) and hazard pay provided under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Thursday.

"Lahat ng health care workers both public and private, national ang LGU, are entitled to these benefits... Ang COVID patients po hindi lang positive at negative ang ating pinag-uusapan. Pag sinabi nating COVID patients, kasama po diyan 'yung suspects at probable na mga kaso. Ibig sabihin may sintomas pa lang ng COVID pero hindi pa nakukumpirma kung sila ay positibo o hindi," Vergeire said during a Laging Handa public briefing.

"Kailangan maintindihan ng ating mga nagpapatupad nitong mga benepisyo para sa ating mga health care worker na hindi po natin pipiliin na COVID-positive lang ang inalagaan ng health care worker at sila lang ang mabibigyan," she added.

She made the clarification in response to a complaint from some health workers of a hospital in Muntinlupa.

Vergeire said a full report on the grievances of the frontliners should be submitted to the DOH for proper action.

"Kailangan lang ho sumulat at magbigay ng full report sa amin so that we can immediately manage and address the situation," she said.

Under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, a COVID-19 SRA must be provided to all public and private health workers "directly catering to or in contact with COVID-19 patients for every month that they are serving during the state of national emergency."

This shall be in addition to the hazard pay granted under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers and active hazard duty pay under Bayanihan 2. The SRA shall be exempt from income tax.—AOL, GMA News