DOH to hospitals: Give hazard pays to health workers fighting COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Hospital administrators should ensure that their health workers assisting in cases of coronavirus disease in the country should receive hazard pay, overtime pay and must have limited working hours, the Department of Health  (DOH) said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Rosette Vergeire said medical workers should have enough compensation and must be working at least six to eight hours, noting that working overtime could pose a health risk to their staff.

“Hinihikayat ng kagawarang kalusugan na bigyan ng tamang protection at tamang kompensasyon na naaayon sa COVID-19 special risk allowance. Limitahan din ang oras ng kanilang pagpasok sa 6-8 hours upang mabigyan sila ng sapat na pahinga at maiwasan din ang posibilidad na bumaba ang kanilang resistensya at mahawa,” Vergeire said during DOH’s virtual presser.

(The DOH is encouraging hospitals to give enough protection and compensation in compliance with COVID-19 special risk allowance. Hours of work should be limited to six to eight hours to give health workers enough rest and to avoid the possibility of health risks.)

This was after a reporter asked about DOH protocols for frontliners of COVID-19. DOH was told that some health workers in hospitals, especially in private health facilities, would work for 12 hours and more but do not receive overtime pay and hazard pay.

Local government units should also give adequate facilities to accommodate medical workers such as hotels, transportation and food, Vergeire said.

As of Wednesday, the Philippine health department confirmed 636 positive cases of the coronavirus. Of which, 38 people died while 26 recovered from the disease, which is caused by the novel coronavirus.