Inihayag ng Department of Health (DOH) na inilabas na nila ang kabuuang ₱76.1 bilyong pondo na pambayad sa health emergency allowance (HEA) ng mga frontline health workers noong panahon ng kasagsagan ng pandemya ng Covid-19.
Ayon sa DOH, sakop ng naturang pondo ang 8,549,207 claims mula Hulyo 1, 2021 hanggang Hulyo 20, 2023.
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“The Department of Health as of today has released a total of PhP 76.1 billion for the payment of the health emergency allowance (HEA, per Republic Act No. 11712) of eligible public and private health workers. This is to pay for 8,549,207 claims, covering the period July 1, 2021 to July 20, 2023,” dagdag pa ng DOH, sa isang pahayag nitong Martes ng gabi.
Ipinaliwanag ng DOH na para sa Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, ang General Appropriations Act ay nagbigay na ng ₱19.9 bilyon para sa HEA sa ilalim ng programmed appropriations.
Ang 99% o ₱19.7 bilyon ng naturang halaga ay nailabas na umano ng DOH sa lahat ng eligible health facilities.
Gayunman, nangangailangan pa umano ang DOH ng tinatayang ₱27 bilyon para mabayaran ang mga arrears na inihain ng mga health facilities.
Tiniyak naman ng DOH na sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga Centers for Health Development sa mga rehiyon, ay nakikipagtulungan sila sa mga private at local government unit (LGU)-owned hospitals at health facilities.
Paliwanag pa ng DOH, sa ilalim ng batas, ni-require nito ang kanilang tanggapan na magkaroon ng memorandum of agreements (MOA) at hintayin ang full liquidation ng mga nasabing LGUs at mga pribadong pagamutan ng HEA funds na nabayaran na, bago muling makapaglabas ng karagdagang pondo.
Mayroon aniya silang listahan ng mga naturang pagamutan at mga health facilities na mayroon pa ring outstanding liquidation requirements.
Anito pa, “The DOH through its Centers for Health Development in the regions has been working with private and local government unit (LGU)-owned hospitals and health facilities. The law requires DOH to have Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) and to wait for full liquidation by these LGU and private hospitals of HEA funds already paid, before subsequent releases of additional funds. The Department has a list of these hospitals and health facilities with outstanding liquidation requirements.”
Pagtiyak pa ng DOH, “We continue to work hand-in-hand with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to grant HEA to all eligible health workers. We are ready to release the funds as soon as the concerned private and LGU hospitals will comply with the law that requires liquidation.”
