DOH Evaluating Deaths Of 22 Other Health Workers For P1M Compensation

Vergeire: DOH Now Evaluating Deaths Of 22 Other Health Workers For P1M Compensation

DOH – Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary and Spokesperson Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said they are now evaluating the death of 22 more health workers.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, also known as the Bayanihan Act, health workers who died due to 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are entitled to a 1-million-peso compensation for their families while those who contracted a severe form of the disease are given P100,000 each.

While the Bayanihan Act already lapsed, a 2nd version was already ratified by the Senate. On Friday, August 28, the Department of Health (DOH) said they are now evaluating 22 more health workers who were killed in the line of duty.

Based on a report from ABS-CBN, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergerie said they are now checking if the families of the fallen heroes are eligible for the 1-million-peso compensation from the government. This is after they released 1M checks to families of 31 medical workers who died due to the virus.

“Itong sa deaths 31 na na-release na for the 1 million for the checks of these health care workers. And mayroon tayong ine-evaluate na 22,” said Vergerie.

Maria-Rosario-Singh-Vergeire-DOH — Photo Source: Chos.PH

According to the report, Vergeire said that the Health department’s admin and finance department has tallied 53 deaths. She explained that they have to validate the death of the worker s before adding them on their official list.

“For the severe and critical cases, we were able to release 36 checks amounting to P100,000 each,” she said.

As of August 26, the DOH said there have been 6,735 healthcare workers infected with the coronavirus.