On Health Workers Day, workers’ unions marched along España Boulevard to protest unresolved issues in their sector. Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News

 MANILA — Four years since the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers in the Philippines are still fighting for higher wages, job security, the release of unpaid benefits, and better working conditions. 

On Health Workers Day on Tuesday, healthcare workers’ unions from various public and private health institutions marched along España Boulevard to protest unresolved issues in the health sector.

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“Sa araw na ito ay ipinaparating namin kay President BBM ang mga issues and concerns ng mga health workers sa pangunguna ng panawagan na itaas ang sahod na nakabubuhay para sa mga health workers, both public and private health workers," said Robert Mendoza, National President of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW). 

On top of healthcare workers’ wish list is the standardization of base or entry salaries to P33,000 per month to address disparity in wages. 

While nurses in public health institutions enjoy a base pay of Salary Grade 15 equivalent to P36,000 or about $640, those in private hospitals only get minimum wage. 

“Yung ipinangako ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos nung nakaraang taon na ang sahod ng mga nurses at healthcare workers dapat ipantay doon sa mga public healthcare workers dahil nga yung exodus ng mga nurses hanggang sa ngayon patuloy, nauubos yung ating mga nurses,” said Jao Clumia, President of St. Luke’s Medical Center Employees Association and spokesperson of Private Healthcare Workers Network. 

Jasmine Almazan, for example, has been toiling as a nursing assistant for 14 years. But her pay remains at P17,000 or about $300 per month. As a result, she is forced to rely on loans to address her family’s needs. 

“Yung P17,000 na yun may bawas pa yon so yung sweldo ko nagiging P2,500 kada kinsenas katapusan dahil sa loan,” she said. 

Hospital workers also suffer from the delayed payout of benefits. 

Those in the public sector have yet to receive their performance-based bonuses from 2021 to 2023, while some in the private sector are still waiting for their Health Emergency Allowance (HEA), a mandatory benefit issued during times of public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Among them is Roland Millano, a nursing attendant and also the president of the Manila Doctors Hospital Employees Association.

“Nung pandemic isa ako sa mga tinamaan ng COVID-19 at para lang sa kaalaman ninyo, naging critical ako… Binigay ko yung buhay ko dahil sa pagseserbisyo, pero ngayon ano? Hanggang ngayon binibigay pa rin namin yung bunay namin para sa pakikipaglaban,” Millano said. 

Aside from the late disbursement of benefits, hospitals also continue to suffer from understaffing. 

According to the Health Workers United for Wage Increase (HWUWI), 6 nurses and 3 nursing attendants caters to about 50 patients at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center Emergency Room; while the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) Outpatient Department only has a few doctors catering to up to 400 patients daily and only 1 to 3 fellows to 80 patients in Urology Service. 

Ironically, many workers in public health institutions are contractual, while regular or permanent positions remain unfilled. 

“Kahit nga sa Department of Health, halos kalahati ng empleyado diyan ay puro contractuals. Kaya ang panawagan natin merong bakanteng 17,000 na plantilla positions ang Department of Health dapat filled up-an po ito at the same time, mag-create pa para yung sinasabi nilang 1 nurse is to 12 patients ratio ay matugunan,” AHW’s Mendoza said. 

Even nursing students joined the demonstrations. Many of them admit already considering working overseas due to the dire situation of health workers in the country. 

“Kailangan po namin bumawi sa magulang namin, na ngayong student pa lang po kami eh sobrang mahal na po yung pagpapa-aral so darating sa point na mag-a-abroad po kami. Pero hangga’t kaya po namin ngayong student, nagvo-volunteer po kami… Dapat po ngayon pa lang po alagaan na po kaming mga healthcare workers para hindi na po tayo pupunta ng abroad at ibang lahi pa po yung makikinabang sa mga skills po ng mga healthcare workers na Pilipino,” said second year nursing student Grace Ibañez. 

Aside from Manila, healthcare workers in other parts of the Philippines such as in Baguio City, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, SOCCSKSARGEN, Camarines Norte and BARMM also held simultaneous demonstrations.

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