Orthopedic Hospital Workers Crippled by Delayed Benefits, Hit $1B Lending to IMF

Alliance of Health Workers

Press Release

June 27, 2012

References:

Sean Velches, NOHWU-AHW President, Mobile Number

Jossel I. Ebesate, AHW National President, Mobile number: 0918-9276381

Hospital workers from Philippine Orthopedic Center hold a picket rally today, in front of the hospital, in protest to the continued delay in payment of their benefits as they hit the government’s plan to lend $1B to International Monetary Fund and buy new jet fighters worth P15B. Officers of the Alliance of Health Workers led by its National President Mr. Jossel Ebesate are also present in support of the protesting public health workers.

“Our patients and health workers in public hospitals like ours are long crippled by inadequate health budget, but the Aquino government has the nerve to lend $1B to “help” other countries and spend billions of  pesos for jetfighters!” said Sean Velches, president of National Orthopedic Hospital Workers’ Union – Alliance of Health Workers (NOHWU-AHW).

Since January of this year, hospital workers under the Department of Health are protesting against the cuts and delays in Magna Carta benefits worth P2,000-8,000/month. The Department of Budget Management points to the provision in the General Appropriations Act requiring DBM approval prior to the use of savings for benefits. Despite health workers’ demand for immediate release of benefits, the DOH recently issued Memorandum Order No. 2012-0181 stopping the release of hazard pay.

The $1B pledge to IMF is equivalent to roughly P42B, more than enough to cover the P2B Magna Carta benefits and provide additional allotment to 68 public hospitals nationwide. Protesters claim the government continues to violate the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers or RA 7305 which mandated the inclusion of health workers’ benefits in the national budget.

“If the Aquino government has any heart at all for the poor, instead of unnecessary expenses and privatization, he should have allotted adequate funds for public hospitals and health workers’ benefits – this will go a long way in saving people’s lives,” said Velches. #