DOH seeks fund source for SRA of health-care workers

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it would review its 2022 budget proposal to see which programs could be set aside in order to give way to health-care workers’ special risk allowances (SRA).

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had reduced to P19.68 billion the DOH-proposed P73.99 billion for COVID-19 response.

At a press briefing on Friday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH was also relying on the Bayanihan 3 to source the funds for the SRA “but it was explained to us [during the Congressional hearing] that [its legislation] is not certain.”

“We were told to revisit the budget [proposal] and see what we can forgo for the meantime for 2022 [in order] to set aside the budget for the SRA of health-care workers,” she said.

Also on Friday, the DOH said that 99 percent of the P311 million additional SRA for 20,208 workers were already disbursed to hospital facilities.

This amount was in addition to the P7 billion initially given to 379,117 health workers who directly handled COVID cases before the Bayanihan 2 expired on June 30.

The DOH also requested from the DBM additional funds for another round of SRA for hospital workers who have not yet received the benefit.

In a statement, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he was coordinating with the DBM for a new guideline on the release of the meal, accommodation and transportation allowances.

Currently, only health workers in government hospitals are eligible for this benefit.