Health workers file red tape complaint vs DOH regional offices

MANILA, Philippines — A coalition of healthcare workers in private hospitals has filed a complaint with the Anti-Red Tape Authority against several Department of Health regional officials for their failure to respond to queries about the status of their COVID-19 benefits.

The United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines (UPHUP), representing over 20,000 healthcare workers, alleged in its complaint that several DOH regional offices failed to comply with Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Businesses and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

UPHUP sent inquiries about the unpaid health emergency allowance of medical workers who served during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to Centers for Health Development across the country on August 25.

The coalition said that while some regional offices promptly responded to its queries, a “significant number of them have not acknowledged or responded to our requests despite the passing of almost a month.”

Under RA 11032, the prescribed timeframe for simple transactions allows a maximum of three working days for action, while for complex matters, the allotted period extends to a maximum of seven working days from the date of receipt.

In cases involving activities that pose danger to public health, safety, morals, policy, and highly technical application, the law provides a maximum timeframe of 20 working days or as determined by the relevant government agency, whichever is shorter.

According to UPHUP, the DOH's Citizen's Charter specifies a response time of only one day and 20 minutes for email requests and inquiries

“The lack of action from a government agency that should be addressing the problems faced by healthcare workers is not only disappointing but