DOH: Over 8,000 health workers accepted in emergency hiring program

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health has already hired a total of 8,056 health workers under its emergency hiring program to augment medical frontliners battling the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, this figure as of September 12 composes 75.34 percent of the 10,693 openings for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers under the program that started in mid-April.

“We are still appealing to those with medical training to join in the effort. Let’s save people. Someone’s mom or dad, son or daughter, spouse, or sibling needs critical care,”Duque said in a statement Tuesday.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the brave health workers who heeded the call to serve and
protect our patients, and we appeal for more medical frontliners to join us in fighting COVID-19,” the Health Chief added.

According to Duque, some 43 percent of those hired were deployed to public hospitals under the DOH, 17 percent were sent to laboratories or COVID-19 diagnostic facilities, and 15 percent were deployed to isolation and quarantine sites or temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

Meanwhile, 12 percent were sent to local government units and other hospitals, and seven percent were deployed to COVID-19 referral facilities.

Nurses account for the highest number of hires by profession at 2701 individuals, followed by medical technologists at 1,356.

“The Department of Budget and Management earmarked P1.74 billion for the emergency hiring program that would have translated to an average salary of P163,146 over an average salary for four months mid-April to August,” said Duque.

The bulk of the funds accounting for P1.58 billion went to COVID-19 referral hospitals, DOH designated diagnostic facilities, and public hospitals, according to the official.

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JE