Pinapayagan na ng Department of Health (DOH) ang medical graduates na mag-practice ng kanilang propesyon kahit walapang lisensya bilang dagdag na pwersa sa laban ng bansa kontra COVID-19.
“DOH issued the Department Memorandum No. 2020-0169 last Saturday, which allows medical graduates to engage min limited practice of medicine as deputized physicians, without need of any certificate of registration from the Professional Regulation Commission,” sa isang statement.
Ayon sa Health department, ituturing na “last resort” o huling backup ang deputized physicians kapag naubos na ang hiring sa mga lisensyadong doktor.
Ide-deploy daw ang mga medical graduates sa mga primary health care facilities, o di kaya’y affiliated hospitals ng kanilang eskwelahan para humawak ng non-COVID 19 patients.
“For those to be assigned in primary health care facilities i.e. health centers, rural health units, province/city health offices, clinics, or temporary isolation facilities, the medical graduates are expected to treat and manage cases to help reduce the burden in hospitals already overwhelmed by COVID-19.”
Inaasahan din daw ang pagtulong nila sa maagang detection ng COVID-19 cases, mga pasilidad na angkop sa standard ng DOH, at manggamot ng mga kaso sa ilang pasilidad.
Ang mga maa-assign sa affiliated public at private hospitals naman ay magiging pansamantalang augment ng health workforce sa mga pasilidad ng ospital na binawasan ng regular staff dahil sa dami ng COVID-19 cases.
“The deputized physicians, however, shall not be assigned in critical care areas, COVID-19
triage/frontline areas, emergency room or in other areas directly managing COVID-19 cases.”
Tatanggap ng buwanang sahod na P38,463, kasama na rito ang 20-percent premium ang mga deputized physicians. May incentive din silang P500 COVID-19 hazard allowance, special risk allowance, tirahan, at iba pang benepisyo sa ilalim ng Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.
“Apart from appropriate personal protective equipment (PPEs), proper orientation on protocols, safe and quality patient care, and other institutional policies will be provided regularly.”
“The limited authority to practice of the deputized physicians will be valid until the termination of
the national health emergency or until prematurely revoked or canceled. They will be working
under the supervision of a licensed physician who will be accountable for their actions.”
Ang kautusang ito ng DOH ay alinsunod daw sa Republic Act 11469 at Republic Act 2382 o Medical Act of 1959.
Sa huling tala ng Health department, may 1,759 human resources nang na-hire para sa COVID-19 response.
Ang 159 sa mga ito ay doktor, 462 ang nurse, 290 medical technologists at 332 nursing attendants.
