THE House committee on health chaired by Quezon 4th District Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan has tackled bills to continue the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) benefits to all public and private health workers during the period of the pandemic.

The various measures on the “COVID-19 Benefits for Health Workers Act of 2021” mandate that these benefits should remain available so long as the presidential declaration of national public health emergency is in place.

The benefits include monthly special risk allowance for all public and private health workers directly catering to or in contact with COVID-19 patients; actual hazard duty pay for all health workers serving in the front line; and life insurance, accommodation, transportation and meals to all health workers.

Also, health workers who contract mild or moderate COVID-19 will be given P15,000 each; P100,000 for severe or critical cases; and in case of death, the amount of P1 million to the heirs.

On top of these, additional benefits that will cover psychiatric treatment for affected health workers will also be included as proposed by Tan.

Several benefits were given to health workers under Republic Act (RA) No. 11494, otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” or Bayanihan 2, which lapsed on June 30 this year.

Tan, in her remarks, said that “2021 has been designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers (YHCW) in appreciation and gratitude for their unwavering dedication in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization has launched a year-long campaign, under the theme – “Protect, Invest, Together”, which highlights the urgent need to invest in health workers for shared dividends in health, jobs, economic opportunity and equity”.

“The WHO has in fact called on the public to ensure that our health and care workforces are supported, protected, motivated and equipped to deliver safe health care at all times, not only during COVID-19 because they are as much needed to accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and COVID-19 recovery”, she explained.

The House committee on health has unanimously approved the measures subject to consolidation and amendment.

Various bills that seek to establish hospitals in local government units were also approved by the Committee.

The panel likewise revisited the PhilHealth Circulars and commitments on House Resolution No. 1966 by Tan, which seeks to inquire into the confusion brought about by the issuances of PhilHealth on the availment of COVID-19 related benefit packages in light of the renewed calls on the part of some hospitals to disengage from PhilHealth over its continued failure to pay reimbursement claims.

The PhilHealth announced that it has adopted the recommendations of the stakeholders which include: non-extendable period for health care providers requirement to answer the Fact-Finding Investigation Report should be increased from 3 days to 10 days; effectivity of TSPC order should be on the date of receipt of the said order; not all claims of a facility should be covered by the TSPC; and the TSPC period should be revised from 120 days to possibly 60 days.

The PhilHealth also said that a grace period shall be given for inpatient claims of probable COVID-19 pneumonia cases admitted from November 26, 2020 to June 18, 2021.

However, Tan noted that the same was confusing and sought clarification from the PhilHealth. Atty. Dante Gierran, PhilHealth President, said that PhilHealth is going to issue another circular to clarify the matter.