Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa —INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON
Health-care workers have only around four months to claim their COVID-19 benefits for serving at COVID-19 wards in the last two years. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has committed to continue the processing and payment of delayed health emergency allowance (HEA) to health-care workers, “subject to availability of funds.” “All unpaid HEA for the period of July 2021 to July 20, 2023… shall be processed and paid even after the duration of the COVID-19 [public health emergency],” Herbosa said in a memorandum. The government owes health-care workers in 26 private hospitals at least P2.27 billion in unpaid benefits. The amount covers the HEA, One COVID-19 allowance, special risk allowance, meals, accommodation and transportation allowance from July 2021 to June this year for 20,723 medical front-liners, or those assigned in COVID-19 wards. —Kathleen de Villa