Govt still owes health workers P62B in COVID allowance

HEALTHCARE workers who served as frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic have yet to be paid health emergency allowances (HEAs) because of lack of funds, according to the Department of Health.

The unpaid allowances stand at P62.2 billion, months after the pandemic state was lifted.

“The estimated arrears for request for HEA covers the period of July 1, 2021 to July 20, 2023,” the DOH said in a statement.

The Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowance for Health Care Workers Act established the provision of HEA to healthcare workers who shall be entitled to allowances for every month of service during the state of public health emergency, with P3,000 for those deployed in low-risk areas, P6,000 for medium-risk areas, and P9,000 for high-risk areas.

The health department said it formally requested P25.9 billion from the Department of Budget and Management last September 4. On October 13, the DBM ordered the release of P4 billion for the payment of the allowances.

“This amounts to 16 percent of the requested amount, thus falling short in the fulfillment of the entire funding request,” said the DOH.

Nevertheless, the health department said it has ordered the transfer of the P4 billion to concerned regional offices, hospitals, and healthcare facilities.

This is in order to make available the funds to the requesting healthcare institutions.

“The DOH encourages all health facilities to coordinate with their respective regional health offices in submitting the required documents (e.g. memorandum of agreement, liquidation reports and requirements for disbursements) to ensure the timely release of HEA,” the health department said.

As to the previously available funding, the DOH said it has released about P50.556 billion.

Of the amount released, 90.07 percent or about P45.53 billion has been released to health workers.

“During this period, a total of 6,789,044 claims have been processed,” said the DOH.