House panel hears amendments to Magna Carta for Public Health Workers
House of Representatives' Committee on Health Chairman and Batanes Lone District Rep. Ciriaco Gato talks to the media about the consolidation of bills that would amend the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers after a hearing by the panel on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.
Video by Red Mendoza
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House of Representatives' Committee on Health Chairman and Batanes Lone District Rep. Ciriaco Gato talks to the media about the consolidation of bills that would amend the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers after a hearing by the panel on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.
Video by Red Mendoza
Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe
Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net
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Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram
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Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital
Check out our Podcasts:
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Of course, our discussions earlier about the Mental Health Act and the amendments to the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers,
00:11 I think a lot of people agreed on that. I'll just save the DBM. What were our considerations in the hearing earlier?
00:18 Because earlier, I heard from the DBM that they were asking for consideration on the salaries of public health workers.
00:26 I think their first concern is the standardization of the definition of salary grade.
00:36 It needs to be standardized.
00:39 And then, definitely, I think everybody agrees that public health workers and mental health professionals deserve to better and improve benefits, salaries included,
00:56 so that they can be given the benefits that our health professionals and health workers have been asking for for a long time.
01:06 From the barangay health workers to the doctors, to the nurses and allied medical professionals,
01:12 they have been asking for the benefits they need for a long time.
01:16 They have risked their lives, especially during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
01:23 We have seen how important the role of our health workers is and how big the risk they are putting on their lives just to serve our countrymen.
01:37 As for the concern of the BHWs, of course, because they are basically volunteers.
01:44 They want to be called as health workers, as regular health workers.
01:53 What are the considerations for the BHWs?
01:57 Because a resource person risked his life, the BHW, and they are terminating him.
02:01 They are considered as volunteers.
02:04 By definition, in fact, under the existing law, all workers working in health and health-related work should be supported by these benefits.
02:18 However, the BHWs are not considered as employers. They are considered as volunteers.
02:23 So I think this is where the problem arises, why the BHWs are not technically included in the benefits.
02:34 But I think we need to revisit, we need to review the laws regarding the BHWs so that they are included.
02:45 They should be included in the ranks of health workers, by definition.
02:52 Of course, one of the things that we talked about earlier is the possible expansion of the RITM into the Visayas.
03:00 I think I heard earlier that there are possible conflicts or there will be duplication between Vicente Soto and Galeares.
03:09 What are your considerations regarding the RITM expansion?
03:15 I think there is no duplication.
03:18 I think during the discussion, the opinion of the Department of Health and RITM is that there is, if we have to put up an RITM in serving Visayas and Mindanao,
03:35 there is already a referral center in Cebu, the Vicente Soto Memorial Hospital or Memorial Medical Center, already functioning as "RITM".
03:51 But having said that, that does not preclude the need for establishing a center or a hospital that functions or that will serve the same function of RITM function in the whole.
04:14 You have been discussing a lot about health issues, but the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic is still there.
04:21 All of these bills are basically the answer to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
04:29 What is your assurance that these bills will be passed?
04:34 And of course, these bills would benefit a lot of Filipinos, especially the public health workers and the mental health workers.
04:42 Well, if these bills will be passed, this will mean an increase in salary, increase in the benefits, and this will encourage health workers to stay in the Philippines and serve the Filipino people.
04:58 We know that we are one of the biggest exporters of health workers, mainly because of the compensation.
05:09 So if we are to pass this bill and it becomes law, then this will address the problem or the reason why the most health workers leave the Philippines.
05:22 Sir, just to add, now it's consolidated and one of the primary things that is needed is to increase the salary and all of the members of the committee and their support. What do you think? What do we see? Will this be an uphill battle? Because we checked with the DBM earlier that the standardization of salary might be affected.
05:43 Realistically, all bills that require budgetary consideration, it's an uphill in a sense because we have to consider also the capability of our government to fund the proposed increase in salaries and benefits.
06:09 But that does not stop us from looking for a solution in addressing the shortage of health workers and inadequate healthcare delivery system in our country.
06:23 Finally, the medical health workers were spotlighted that their calls are long-term and they hope that this will be stopped. I mean, they are given spotlight, so the congressman are releasing that they can stop.
06:40 With more reason, now we see during the pandemic that the healthcare workers are really the frontliners and their lives are in danger. And really, I'm a doctor by profession, so I understand the plight of the health workers in our country.
07:01 And definitely, I am all for improving, increasing the benefits, the salaries of health workers in our country.
07:10 [ Silence ]
07:16 [ Music ]