DOH Region 6 postpones deployment of medical team to Cebu City

The Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas on Monday announced that it temporarily suspended the deployment of a medical team to Cebu City following the Doctors to the Barrios’ (DTTBs) call for the department to rethink the order.

In a statement, DOH Region 6 Director Marlyn Convocar said four batches of 39 physicians, composed of DTTBs and members of the Post Residency Deployment Program, were formed after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III ordered the deployment of more doctors to Cebu City due to the rise in COVID-19 infections in the area. 

Convocar said the first batch of the medical team was convened for a meeting on June 26 but they had “not expressed their non-concurrence to the order and manifested some concerns to be considered by the management.”

She added that DOH Region 6 coordinated with the concerned local chief executives on the same day.

“Until [the] meeting today, June 29, 2020, members of the first batch of the medical team personally expressed their concern to the CHD Director. As such, deployment will be temporarily held in abeyance until issues and concerns are settled with all concerned physicians and other stakeholders,” Convocar said.

DTTBs earlier slammed the “abrupt, exploitative” DOH directive ordering their reassignment to Cebu City, stressing that they were not informed through writing, no consultation was held, and no guidelines or protocols were given. 

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH continues to dialogue with DTTBs who oppose their reassignment.

“Due to the still-existing state of public health emergency in the country, assistance and cooperation of all government agencies and local government units are expected in addressing the COVID-19 threat,” she said in a briefing.

“The DOH acted within the bounds of its authority when it ordered the redeployment of the DTTBs… The primary intent of the DTTBs remains, and that is to serve all people in the country,” Vergeire added. — RSJ, GMA News