Gov’t medical assistance for teachers

One of the principal factors why teachers borrow money is because the government does not have medical assistance to them despite the mandate of a law.

Under Section 22 of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers or Republic Act 4670, the government is responsible to maintain teachers’ health thru a compulsory, annual and free medical examination. And if the examination found that a teacher needs to undergo medication or hospitalization, again it should be at the expense of the government.

Aside from daily expenses for their family and teaching aids are also burdened by expenses for their medical needs and one of them is the annual medical check-up which should be given free for all teachers. However, despite the explicit provision of the law, teachers themselves pay for these tests.

One of the reasons teachers borrow money is the emergency medical need for themselves and their family members. They run to loan agencies especially if they have no extra income or savings from their meager salaries. Then, it would be difficult for them to free themselves from chains of debt.

We are very optimistic, though, that the DepEd will act favorably on this matter after discussing it with Sec. Leoner Briones last Nov. 17. Briones gave her initial commitment and said that the DepEd will consider increasing the school funds to cover free annual medical check-up for all teachers. As to our mutual benefit system proposal, the DepEd said this may be included in the services of the DepEd Provident Fund, which now is limited to loans.

The Secretary said they will immediately study legalities to enable them to grant these benefits. to be translated in policies.--