DOH reports release of ₧14.3B in benefits

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday reported it has disbursed P14.3-billion worth of benefits for health-care workers (HCWS) as of September 3, 2021, covering the period of September 15 to December 19, 2020 and December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

The DOH said HCWS from both public and private health facilities “catering to Covid-19 patients are beneficiaries of these benefits.”

“As stated in the guidelines, the DOH through its centers for health development enters into a memorandum of understanding

with health facilities to legally disburse these benefits,” the DOH said. “The health facilities are then responsible for disbursing these to the employees and submitting a liquidation report thereafter.”

For September 15 to December 19, 2020, which is Period 1, the DOH said that P6.4 billion has been disbursed, representing active hazard duty pay for 384,159 HCWS and special risk allowance (SRA) for 306,314 HCWS for the meals, accommodation and transportation (MAT) allowances. A total of 103,096 HCWS received MAT worth P990.9 million, according to the DOH.

Additionally, for Period 2 (December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021), P6.9billion worth of SRA was disbursed for 379,117 HCWS. Further, 32,281 HCWS were covered with life insurance worth P16 million.

The DOH also reported that P570million worth of checks has also been released to 24,034 health-care workers as Covid-19 sickness and death compensation.

According to an official, the DOH family includes 72 hospitals with more than 10,000 medical frontliners.