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P50.4B for healthcare workers’ benefits in 2022 slashed, says DoH
Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo questioned the DOH regarding the inclusion of funds for healthcare workers' special risk allowance (SRA) in the proposed 2022 budget.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed that no funds have been allotted for health workers' COVID-19 benefits, including SRA, hazard pay, and meals, accommodations, and transportation (MAT) allowances, in the DOH's proposed 2022 budget.
Duque explained that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) excluded these benefits from the agency's proposed budget for the coming year.
The DBM reduced the DOH's proposed COVID-19 funds for 2022 from P73.99 billion to P19.67 billion, which includes a P50.4 billion slash for healthcare workers' benefits.
Quimbo pointed out that the P19.67 billion allocated for COVID-19 response within the DOH's proposed budget may be insufficient.
Duque also mentioned that while the DBM had released P311,793,474 for SRA, only 20% of targeted healthcare workers received their benefits.
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The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released an additional P888.12 million to cover the special risk allowances (SRA) of public and private healthcare workers (HCWs) catering to COVID-19 patients.
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The Department of Health (DOH) has disbursed 99% of the P311 million allocated for the COVID-19 special risk allowance (SRA) of an additional 20,208 health workers.
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The Department of Health (DOH) has disbursed a total of PHP14.3 billion in benefits for healthcare workers as of September 3, 2021.
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The Department of Health (DOH) is requesting additional funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to cover the special risk allowance (SRA) for more than 17,000 additional health workers.
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Health workers protested the delayed release of their COVID-19 benefits and called for the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
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