IATF allows emergency hiring of health workers

MANILA, Philippines — With hundreds of Filipino doctors and nurses afflicted with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has directed the health department to start the emergency hiring of additional healthcare workers.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, also IATF spokesperson, said the task force had allowed the Department of Health (DOH) “to facilitate the emergency hiring of additional healthcare workers to assist in the local healthcare system.” 

But the move would be “subject to the evaluation of the Department of Budget and Management,” pursuant to IATF Resolution No. 23.

The DOH said the emergency hiring of doctors, nurses and other health workers would be covered by contract of service for a minimum of three months. They will be deployed to DOH-designated COVID-19 referral hospitals, temporary treatment at monitoring facilities for COVID-19 and the DOH-designated COVID-19 diagnostic facilities and public and private hospitals.  

As confirmed COVID-19 cases surpass the 6,000 mark, with fatalities recorded at 397 and 516 total recoveries as of press time, Nograles expressed sadness over the reality that there are many families who are now grieving for their loved ones who passed away due to the disease.  

Contact tracing

Meanwhile, the IATF has ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to spearhead the efforts to trace the contacts of COVID-19 infected individuals. 

“The DILG, in coordination with local government units (LGUs), shall hereafter lead the contact-tracing efforts of the government. For this purpose, the DOH and the DILG are directed to enter into a data-sharing agreement in accordance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act,” Nograles said.