Inquiry on the Safety, Welfare, and Benefits of Hospital Workers and Medical Staff

Inquiry on the Safety, Welfare, and Benefits of Hospital Workers and Medical Staff

His Excellency Ferdinand E. Marcos, Jr.

President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace
Manila

Dear Mr. President,

Subject: Inquiry on the Safety, Welfare, and Benefits of Hospital Workers and Medical Staff

I am writing to express my concern for the safety, welfare, and benefits of hospital workers and other medical staff in our country. These individuals, often celebrated as heroes, have made immense sacrifices, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a growing concern that their contributions are not adequately rewarded or protected.

May I respectfully inquire about the following points, which aim to address this issue comprehensively:

1.   Heroism and Rewards

o   While we hail our health workers and other frontliners as heroes, what are we doing to tangibly reward them for their heroism?

2.   Job Security

o   Many hospital workers in government facilities lack regular employment, leaving them without security of tenure. What measures are being taken to address this?

3.   Fair Compensation

o   Many medical staff are underpaid and occupy positions below their qualifications and training. Are there ongoing initiatives to address salary standardization and proper placement?

4.   Protective Equipment

o   Numerous health workers face contamination risks due to inadequate protective equipment. Some even resort to using homemade masks instead of certified N-95 masks. How can this be resolved?

5.   Staff Quarters

o   Many hospitals lack quarters for staff to rest after long shifts, especially during emergencies and epidemics. Is there a plan to provide adequate facilities?

6.   Life Insurance

o   Do health workers have life insurance coverage in case of death due to contamination or occupational hazards?

7.   Sustainable Rewards

o   Post-pandemic, many companies offered temporary freebies and discounts to health workers. Can we establish a sustainable program to recognize their efforts?

8.   Free or Discounted Meals

o   Can hospitals provide free meals in their cafeterias or at least offer discounts to augment the limited incomes of their staff?

9.   Free or Discounted Transportation

o   Can health workers benefit from free rides or discounted fares on public transportation, similar to what is extended to students?

10.                Retention of Medical Workers

o   Would these incentives reduce the outflow of nurses and medical workers to other countries?

11.                Universal Healthcare and Medical Worker Welfare

o   How can we achieve universal healthcare if our medical workers are not adequately taken care of?

12.                Existing Laws and Proposals

o   Are there existing laws that address these concerns but are not being implemented? Are there new legislative measures being proposed?

13.                DOH and Congressional Action

o   What steps is the Department of Health (DOH) taking to address this issue? Is Congress conducting hearings or initiating programs to resolve these challenges?

Our healthcare system depends on the dedication and expertise of our medical workers. Ensuring their welfare is not just a moral obligation but a crucial step in strengthening our healthcare system and achieving universal health coverage.

I trust in your administration’s commitment to the well-being of every Filipino, and I am hopeful for a positive response to these concerns. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.


Respectfully yours,

Ramon Ike V. Seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

Cc: Secretary of Health

Chairman of Civil Service Commission

Commissioner of the Insurance Commission

Committee on Health, Senate of the Philippines

Committee on Health, House of Representatives

01-19-2025

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HOW IS THE CRIME RATE COMPUTED IN THE PHILIPPINES?

HOW IS THE CRIME RATE COMPUTED IN THE PHILIPPINES? When we talk about the crime rate in the Philippines, we often assume that the figures we see are accurate reflections of reality. But have we ever paused to ask—how exactly is the crime rate computed? Where does this data come from, and how reliable is it? The computation of the crime rate in the Philippines is officially handled by the Philippine National Police (PNP). The formula itself is straightforward: Crime Rate = (Total Reported Crimes / Total Population) x 100,000 This simple equation gives us the number of crimes per 100,000 people, allowing for fair comparison across regions and time periods. However, the reality behind these numbers is more complex than it appears. Data from the Ground The foundation of our national crime rate is empirical data collected at the grassroots level—from individual police stations scattered across the country. Every reported crime is logged in local police blotters, forming the buil...
Read more

GREY AREAS IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS

GREY AREAS IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS Dear Mr. President: May I ask who is going to be the arbiter or referee whenever there are overlaps in functions between two or more government agencies? I imagine that there would be no problem if these agencies would just cooperate and collaborate with each other, but what if they are unable to settle their differences and they would just end up throwing blame at each other or finger pointing at each other? Allow me to cite some examples. Who is supposed to take the lead in waste to energy projects? Is it supposed to be the DENR that is supposed to handle waste? Or is it supposed to be the DOE that is supposed to handle energy generation? Or is it supposed to be the DILG since it is the one that could direct or influence the waste to energy projects of LGUs? Who is supposed to take the lead in producing and promoting the use of biofuels? Is it supposed to be the DA, since the production of biofuels is supposed to be all about planting biofuel ...
Read more

LOCALIZED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICES

LOCALIZED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICES As it is supposed to be, anyone in the Philippines should be able to dial 911, and a telephone operator should be able to dispatch fire, rescue, ambulance and police (FRAP) units as soon as possible, based on acceptable response times. I invented the FRAP acronym for easy recall, and I hope it sticks, if there is no other alternative. Unfortunately, due to a mixture of technical and political reasons, the Philippines has not adopted 911 as a national number, because some LGUs would rather use their own three-digit numbers such as 117 and 168. I actually proposed a technical solution to that problem, but it was not adopted either. For whatever it is worth, my solution is to install a call forwarding system that could route all calls to a central operator, regardless of what number is dialed. It is very sad for me to know that up to now, even if our country is already over one hundred years old, there are still many LGUs that do not have fire trucks. it ...
Read more