Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday called on authorities to consider granting an incentive to all pharmacists who are now helping in the national government’s COVID-19 vaccination drive.
Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, lauded the pharmacists who have joined volunteer vaccinators to fast-track the government’s campaign.
“As (health) committee chair, I suggest that maybe we can provide incentives to these pharmacists who are now working double time,” Go said in response to President Duterte’s Talk to the People address last January 24.
“This would encourage even those who own private pharmacies in far-flung areas here in the Philippines... and help accelerate our vaccination program,” he said.
In response, presidential adviser for COVID-19 response Secretary Vince Dizon assured Go that the proposal would be discussed by the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and National Vaccination Operations Center.
The Resbakuna sa Botika is a joint government and private sector initiative that seeks to expand the country’s immunization program and address the shortage in vaccinators.
Pilot implementation of the program was conducted in select pharmacies and clinics in Metro Manila on January 20 and 21 and is set to be expanded to other parts of the country.
Participating major pharmacies and clinic networks include The Generics Pharmacy, Generika Drugstore, Healthway Clinic, Mercury Drug, Southstar Drug, Watsons and QualiMed.
At the same time, Go thanked the President for recently approving the release of P1.185-billion for the COVID-19 Special Risk Allowance (SRA) of eligible private HCWs and non-DOH plantilla personnel who are catering to or are in direct contact with COVID-19 patients.
“Let us ensure that our heroic healthcare workers are being taken care of and well compensated for they provide a crucial role in our fight against this pandemic,” Go stressed.