The Department of Health (DOH) has announced that it has disbursed a total of P76.1 billion as of March 19, 2024, for the health emergency allowance (HEA) of eligible public and private health workers in the Philippines.
This amount covers 8,549,207 claims filed between July 1, 2021, and July 20, 2023. However, the DOH noted that approximately P27 billion is still needed to settle its debt to health facilities.
The department is working with private and local government-owned hospitals and health facilities to comply with the requirement for full liquidation before releasing additional funds, as mandated by Republic Act No. 11712.
Under this law, health workers are entitled to HEAs based on their risk exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the legal mandate for monthly allowances, some health workers are only now receiving their allowances, with delays of up to two years for those in public hospitals and ongoing waiting for those in private and LGU-owned hospitals.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 21, 2024
