38% of Bayanihan 2 budget to be used for healthcare workers –DOH

A huge portion of the Department of Health’s (DOH) budget allocated under the Bayanihan to Recover as Once Act or Bayanihan 2 will be used for the deployment of healthcare professionals in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the Laging Handa Public briefing on Saturday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that “about 38% po ng ating pondo na iyan ay para sa human resources for health.”

Under the Bayanihan 2, a stimulus package with a budget of P165 billion,  the DOH will get almost half or P53.48 billion.

In an earlier statement, the Health Department said the budget allocation will be “for the support of healthcare workers (HCWs), sustaining the drive of the DOH and keep HCWs protected while at the same time preventing the influx of patients into hospitals.”

“We like to continue on with the deployment of doctors, nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals,” Vergeire said.

“Pangalawa po, of course nandiyan po iyong mga public health programs natin na kailangan po nating suportahan, mayroon din po tayong programa diyan o budget for the vaccine for COVID-19 and of course the other vaccines that we need for the national immunization program,” she said.

The DOH is also hoping that it can reach its target of additional 10,00 healthcare workers to augment the country’s healthcare workforce amid the pandemic.

“So, nadagdagan po tayo, kaunti pa rin ang nadagdag, pero tayo po umaasa pa rin na in the coming days makakapagpadagdag pa rin tayo at makakapag-recruit para ma-deploy sa iba’t ibang facilities sa country,” Vergeire said. — DVM, GMA News