DOH: Over P1.4B special risk allowance given to healthcare workers amid COVID-19 in 2022

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said more than P1.4 billion special risk allowance has been given to healthcare workers this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the press conference, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said at least P1,449,974,155.21 special risk allowance was provided to 73,711 healthcare workers under batches 5 and 6.

Vergeire said at least 27,899 beneficiaries received COVID-19 sickness and death compensation which amounted to P421,255,000.

She added that the DOH also provided at least P12,216,968,813.57 health emergency allowance, previously known as One COVID-19 Allowance, to 1,666,638 eligible healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers.

“Tayo po ay patuloy na magbibigay ng benepisyo para sa ating mga healthcare workers alinsunod sa mga batas ng ating bansa,”  the DOH OIC said.

(We will continue to provide benefits for our healthcare workers in accordance with the laws of our country.)

“Ang mga karagdagang pondo para sa mga benepisyo na ito ay kasalukuyang nakikipagugnayan po ang ating kagawaran sa Department of Budget and Management,” she added.

(We are currently coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management for the additional funds for these benefits.)

In the DOH accomplishment report covering July to December that was presented to the Palace, the department said it has disbursed P19.65 billion for the benefits of healthcare workers.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier said the Office of the President is open for dialogues to tackle the concerns of nurses and other healthcare workers.

Marcos said he believes that the benefits accorded to nurses are not enough considering their services and sacrifices to ensure the health of the public.

The DOH also provided a total of P11.24 billion in medical assistance to 1,878,650 patients through the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) program as of November of this year.

It also distributed P468.59 million worth of assistance to all regions for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) activities and built additional 40 functional specialty centers, bringing to 46 the total number of specialty facilities nationwide. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News