Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11712)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11712 is the 'Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act.'
The State recognizes the critical role of health care workers in providing quality health care and ensuring disease prevention, especially during national public health emergencies, and promotes their welfare through mandatory benefits and allowances.
Health facilities refer to any public or private institution with health care as their core service, function, or business, including those licensed or designated by the Department of Health for COVID-19 and future public health emergency response.
They include all public and private medical, allied medical, administrative, technical, support personnel employed in hospitals, health facilities, laboratories, temporary treatment or vaccination sites, outsourced personnel exposed to public health emergencies, and Barangay Health Workers part of the DOH National BHW registry system.
It is an occurrence or threat of an illness or health condition of national scale caused by biological, chemical, nuclear, natural, or radiological events, posing high probability of large deaths, injuries, widespread exposures, international risk, or trade and travel restrictions.
The categories are low risk (administrative duties in non-public areas), medium risk (providing direct physical care to the public not known to be COVID-19 patients), and high risk (providing direct care to COVID-19 patients involving aerosol-generating procedures).
All health care and non-health care workers, regardless of employment status, during the COVID-19 or other declared national public health emergencies from the time of declaration until it is lifted.
HEA is granted monthly based on risk category: P3,000 for low risk, P6,000 for medium risk, and P9,000 for high risk. It is released in full if the worker physically renders at least 96 hours in a month; otherwise, it is prorated.
For death, heirs receive P1,000,000. For severe or critical cases, the workers receive P100,000. For mild or moderate cases, the workers receive P15,000.
Full PhilHealth coverage for hospitalization due to COVID-19, regular testing fully covered by PhilHealth, and other existing benefits under laws such as the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.
The benefits have retroactive application from July 1, 2021 and remain effective during the state of national public health emergency.
An ad hoc grievance board composed of a DOH-appointed grievance officer, a health professional organization representative, and a DOLE arbitration officer to investigate and settle complaints regarding failure to grant benefits.
Funds are charged against DOH appropriations and other sources as identified by DBM. Continuous funding and deficiency coverage are included in the General Appropriations Act, with presidential authority to reprogram funds excluding infrastructure and social assistance projects.
No. This Act does not reduce existing allowances and benefits under Republic Act No. 7305 (Magna Carta of Public Health Workers) or other laws, decrees, executive orders, or contracts.
Other sections or provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect according to the separability clause.