by Nimfa Estrellado July 3, 2021 A health worker in a laboratory. (Photo from PIXABAY) LUCENA CITY - Some health workers are leaving Quezon ...
July 3, 2021
 |
| A health worker in a laboratory. (Photo from PIXABAY) |
LUCENA CITY - Some health workers are leaving Quezon Medical Center, formerly known as Quezon Memorial Hospital, a tertiary level hospital in Lucena City, Quezon, in droves, with patients and staff suffering as a result of low wages, according to two nurses.
And they're asking Quezon Governor Danilo E. Suarez to come to see the conditions they're working in while being understaffed, underpaid, and drowning in COVID-19 patients.
According to the two nurses, who have agreed not to be identified, more registered nurses have resigned or left the country since COVID-19 hit the country in 2020.
A nurse who did not want to be identified stated that contact tracers and health workers have been working tirelessly in the fight against COVID-19 and that we desperately need their continued assistance as the pandemic shows no signs of abating. To encourage them to stay in their jobs, the government should increase their pay and other benefits.
Contribution of front-line health workers and others regarded as "modern-day heroes" in the fight against an unseen enemy.
"The reality is we are underpaid. It does take time to do the catch-up, but also we had the pay equity deal which is being worked out at the moment as well.” the nurse said.
Some nurses and health workers believe that the estimated P25,000 or even lower monthly salary for nurses at the aforementioned government hospital is insufficient.
They explained that they continue to do their jobs despite the pandemic because they want to help citizens, but because of the situation, many of them are unable to live in the city where they serve.
"Hindi talaga enough 'yong mga nakukuha naming compensation, benefits," a health worker, who didn’t want to be named, said.
Some nurses are also reportedly being "contractualized" as part of the government's health worker deployment program.
“It is hard to imagine a profession that contributes so much to the health and wellbeing of the nation being valued so poorly,” the netizen said.
The Philippine Nurses Association admitted that the number of nurses in government hospitals is also gradually declining.
"Many of our nurses would claim na may mga cases of one is to 30 [patients], one is to 50 [patients]," ani Ruth Thelma Tingda ng Philippine Nurses Association.
The Department of Health has yet to respond to the nurses' demand for a salary increase in the country.
President Rodrigo Duterte on June 3 signed an administrative order (AO) granting a Covid-19 hazard pay to government personnel who physically report for work in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ).
AO 43 amends AO 26 granting a Covid-19 hazard pay at the rate of PHP500 per day to government workers who physically report for work.
“National government agencies (NGAs) including state universities and colleges (SUCs) and government-owned or –controlled corporations (GOCCs) are authorized to grant Covid-19 Hazard Pay to personnel who physically report for work during the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine in their respective work stations, in an amount not exceeding PHP500 per day per person,” the AO read.
Under the AO, the heads of government agencies may grant the Covid-19 hazard pay to their personnel without the need for further approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), provided the person has been authorized to physically report for work at their respective offices or work stations on the prescribed official working hours by the head of agency or office during the period of implementation of ECQ and MECQ measures in the area of such office or work station.
For GOCCs, the funds needed for the grant of Covid-19 hazard pay shall be charged against their respective approved corporate operating budgets (COBs) for the current fiscal year.
Should a GOCC have insufficient funds to fully cover the Covid-19 hazard pay at PHP500 per day per person, a lower but uniform rate may be granted for all qualified personnel.
For local government units (LGUs), including those in the barangays, who physically report for work shall be determined by their respective Sanggunians (councils) depending on the LGU’s financial capability, at rates not exceeding PHP500 per day per person.
Except for the foregoing amendments, all other provisions of AO No. 26 shall remain unchanged.
The AO takes effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
On Tuesday, Duterte also signed AO 42 allowing the continued grant of a PHP5,000 per month Covid-19 special risk allowance to private and public healthcare workers with direct exposure to Covid-19 patients.
Duterte signed the AO “to recognize the heroic and invaluable contribution of our health workers throughout the country, who bravely and unselfishly risk their lives and health by being at the forefront of national efforts to respond to the pandemic.”
Under AO 42, the grant of the Covid-19 SRA shall be pro-rated based on the number of days that the frontline health workers physically report for work in a month, as certified by the head of the hospital, laboratory, or medical and quarantine facility, or his/her authorized representatives, reckoned from Sept. 15, 2020 until June 30, 2021. (with reports from PNA)
No comments