The Department of Health (DOH) assured that it will expedite the distribution of Covid-19 sickness and death compensation for eligible healthcare workers and allied personnel.
Recently, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P1.08 billion for the sickness and death compensation of eligible personnel assigned in all public or private health facilities involved in Covid-19 response this year— who were "infected by the virus and/or died while fighting the Covid-19 pandemic while in the line of duty."
"The DOH has already processed over P282 million to facilitate the payment of at least 21,800 sickness and death compensation claims under this 2022 issuance, through its Centers for Health Development," the state health agency said in a statement.
The DOH said P15,000 shall be provided to those who were ill with mild to moderate Covid infection, and P100,000 for severe or critical cases.
Meanwhile, P1 million will be provided as compensation "for the legal heirs left behind by those who have died in the line of duty," the DOH added.
According to the DOH, these include "both medical and health allied personnel who provide direct health care to patients, and also technical, administrative, and support staff within the health facilities. Personnel may be occupying a regular, temporary, coterminous, contractual or casual position, on full-time or part-time basis. Clinical consultants, resident physicians, and fellows in training are included."
Also included are "duly accredited volunteer workers, including but not limited to swabbers, vaccinators, encoders, bar coders, contact tracers, and ambulance drivers, as well as Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) members and barangay health workers (BHWs) provided they are assigned to health facilities or health-related establishments."
"Our pandemic response would not be possible without the healing hands and loving hearts of our health care workers and support staff who dedicated their all for every Juan and Juana throughout these trying times of the Covid-19 pandemic," said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.
"By giving them the benefits they deserve, we hope to solidify our gratitude in addition to the pride and honor we have for them all the time," he added.