Risa Hontiveros. Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Neophyte Senator Risa Hontiveros is proposing a P6,000 basic wage for barangay (village) health workers (BHWs).
“Barangay health workers aid the community in primary care like maternal and childcare and health education, but they are not given enough training and compensation for their service,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Wednesday.
She cited in particular the numerous BHWs not being covered by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) based on her conversations with them during the campaign.
“It’s a sad situation when health workers themselves are not insured of their health,” said the senator.
This has prompted Hontiveros, former director of PhilHealth, to file Senate Bill No. 214, or the Bibong Barangay Health Workers Act, which seeks better pay and benefits for BHWs.
Her bill, she said, will provide BHWs with PHilHealth, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Pag-Ibig benefits. The proposed measure also seeks a six-month Community Health Worker Education and Program to produce skilled medical professionals.
Hontiveros said latest data show that there are 219,433 active BHWs in the country spread out in 42,000 barangays.
“The BHWs are our first responders. Imagine if we enhance their skills through more trainings,” she said.
The senator wants counterpart funding from the national government to augment the support for BHWs given by local government units.
The bill was just one of six healthcare bills she has filed within fifteen days after assuming office.
Among her proposed legislations include seeking the extension of maternity leave, strengthening of the HIV-AIDS law and the anti-hospital deposit law, establishment of the National Health Promotion Institute and providing mandatory PhilHealth coverage for persons with disabilities. Ma. Czarina A. Fernandez, INQUIRER.net trainee/RAM
READ: Hontiveros seeks mandatory PhilHealth coverage for PWDs