Group files complaint vs. DOH over delayed health emergency allowance

The United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines (UPHUP) has lodged a complaint to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) against several regional offices of the Department of Health (DOH) for its failure to respond to inquiries regarding the long overdue distribution of health emergency allowances (HEA) for healthcare workers.

In its complaint dated September 25, UPHUP—a coalition representing over 20,000 healthcare workers—alleged that eleven DOH regional offices violated Republic Act No. 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

These offices were based in the Ilocos Region, National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Region.

UPHUP said it issued letters via email to 16 DOH regional offices on August 25, inquiring about and asking for the release of unpaid HEA benefits to healthcare workers who rendered services at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While some regional offices promptly responded to our inquiries and provided the necessary information, a significant number of them have not acknowledged or responded to our requests despite the passing of almost a month,” the group said.

RA 11032 states that simple transactions shall be acted upon by the assigned officer or employee within three working days, while complex transactions are allotted seven working days from the date the request was received.

As to applications or requests involving activities which pose danger to public health, public safety, public morals, public policy, and highly technical application, the prescribed processing time is no longer than 20 working days or as determined by the government agency or instrumentality concerned, whichever is shorter.

The UPHUP said DOH's own Citizen's Charter 2023 stipulates a response time of only 1 day and 20 minutes for email requests and inquiries.

The group said it took the initiative after receiving an “enormous” number of complaints from healthcare institutions nationwide regarding the delayed HEAs.

“Data aggregated from these 155 hospitals, encompassing over 53,000 healthcare workers across 16 regions in the country, discloses an alarming average arrears of 19 months, equating to an astonishing sum of nearly 5.8 billion pesos,” it disclosed.

GMA News Online sought the comment of the DOH, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

In August, DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Enrique Tayag said that P46.4 billion worth of HEAs have already been released by the DOH, while P15.2 billion are yet to be disbursed.

The Health department also said it is targeting to complete this year the distribution of the delayed HEAs. —VAL, GMA Integrated News