DOH welcomes coordination with hospitals to speed up distribution of Covid-19 allowance

The Department of Health (DOH) assured that hospitals encountering difficulties in getting the "One Covid-19 Allowance (OCA)" of their respective healthcare workers can coordinate with the agency to hasten its distribution.
"The Department of Health welcomes closer coordination with all hospitals, including members of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI), to allow for the fast distribution of the OCA to our deserving healthcare workers," the DOH said in a statement.
The state health agency said that funds for OCA for January to February of this year "have already been downloaded" to its Centers for Health Development (CHDs).
"For the DOH Centers for Health Development to transfer funds to private hospitals, rules and regulations require a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and full accounting or liquidation of any funds previously given," the DOH noted.
"DOH-CHDs welcome the submission of names of the private hospitals encountering difficulties so that the issues can be addressed immediately," it added.
Recently, the DOH said that a total of P86,507,118 has already been released to 54 health facilities since January 2022.
Under the joint memorandum of the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management, "personnel assigned in all health facilities" involved in the Covid-19 response are eligible for this allowance.
This include healthcare workers (HCWs) "comprise of medical and health allied personnel" as well as non-HCWs who "provide technical, administrative, and support care within the health facilities."
Under OCA, the amount shall vary according to risk exposure of the HCW and non-HCW in particular settings: P3,000 for low risk, P6,000 for medium risk, and P9,000 for high risk.