DoH defends plan, will deploy doctors to Cebu

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department acted within the bounds of its authority when it ordered the reassignment of rural physicians under the Doctors to the Barrios program in Cebu City hospitals which saw a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases

Following criticisms from some physicians and medical groups, the Department of Health (DoH) on Monday defended its controversial plan to send volunteers to the “doctors to the barrios” program to Cebu City — new epicenter of COVID-19.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department acted “within the bounds of its authority” when it ordered the reassignment of rural physicians under the Doctors to the Barrios (DTTB) program in Cebu City hospitals which saw a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.

“Pursuant to Section 2 of Proclamation 922 and 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,” Vergeire said.

“Hence, the department acted within the bounds of its authority when it ordered the redeployment of the doctors to the barrios. Recent spike of cases in the region has led to more Cebu-centered responses,” she added.

Her remarks came after DTTB’s Batches 36 (Alab) and 37 (Mandala) called the DoH order “abrupt” and “exploitative,” adding that doctors were not “suitably informed” of their reassignment through writing and that no consultation was done prior to the directive.

They also demanded the DoH regional offices to hold an “inclusive dialogue” with the doctors to the barrios and the municipalities they are currently serving.

Vergeire said the DoH has been coordinating with physicians of Batches 36 and 37 to resolve the matter, adding that the primary intent of the DTTB program remains to serve all people in the country.