DOH seeks P5.2 billion funding to hire 17,000 workers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is seeking a P5.2-billion funding to hire more than 17,000 health workers who will join the government’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, President Duterte said on Monday.

The planned hiring is part of the DOH’s effort to secure facilities and human resources for those at the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19.

“The DOH submitted to the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) the budget proposal for the hiring of additional 17,757 personnel to be deployed in priority health facilities,” Duterte said in his fourth weekly report on the government’s COVID-19 response submitted to Congress.

The budget proposal was submitted to the DBM on April 15. 

Priority health facilities include the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Hospital and Sanitarium, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

As of April 16, Duterte said 743 health personnel were deployed to hospitals for COVID-19 response. 

A total of 693 government and private hospitals with 8,714 beds are dedicated to COVID-19. 

The President said the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Committee has approved the proposed COVID-19 emergency response project of the DOH.

The project, which costs P5.09 billion, covers the establishment of testing and quarantine facilities at six major international airports nationwide; building of 21 first-line decontamination centers at international airports in selected areas; equipping of national laboratories and sub-national public health laboratories to handle COVID-19 cases; refurbishing and establishment of negative pressure isolation rooms in about 70 DOH and 85 provincial public hospitals; setting up of 450 isolation tents and provision of personal protective equipment, COVID-19 test kits, diagnostic and life support equipment and ambulances. 

Duterte said the trade and finance departments have agreed to provide incentives to enterprises engaged in the manufacture of medicine, medical supplies and equipment as well as exemptions from import duties, taxes and other fees.

The export requirements of exporters of critical products have also been suspended. 

More health workers infected

The high number of COVID-19 cases among health workers could be because they are being prioritized for testing, according to the DOH.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the high percentage of infected health workers may be a result of the revised guidelines for testing of the DOH.

Over 700 doctors, nurses and other medical frontliners have been infected with COVID-19, based on DOH records.  – With Sheila Crisostomo