The government is in need of 25,000 health professionals for deployment in the rural areas next year under its provisional staff augmentation programs, according to Rep. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur.
Pimentel, House committee on good government and public accountability chairperson, said the Department of Health has opened application windows at its regional offices for 20,527 nurses, 3,108 midwives, 446 physicians and 324 dentists, all for deployment to the countryside from Jan. 2, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2018.
DoH is accepting applicants for the positions of medical technologists, pharmacists, universal health-care implementers, public health associates and family health associates, too, he added.
“We’ve already set aside P9.7 billion to pay for their salaries and benefits next year,” said Pimentel, a member of the House appropriations committee.
“Those who join up can use the experience and training that they can gain to later on obtain even better jobs elsewhere.”
A nurse will receive a monthly salary of P29,000
plus benefits, while a physician will get P70,000 plus benefits, based on the higher pay rates set to take effect Jan. 1, 2018, in accordance with the third tranche of Salary Standardization Law of 2016.
The recruitment and selection of the additional health professionals began on Oct. 1 and will last until Dec. 31, Pimentel said.