Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28) — A legislator from the House of Representatives has called on his fellow officials to stop deploying Filipino health care workers overseas for the meantime, in view of the health crisis in the country caused by the coronavirus disease.
“Patriotism and self-protection in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic demand the temporary ban on overseas deployment of Filipino healthcare professionals and workers like physicians, nurses, and laboratory technicians,” Rep. Edcel Lagman said in a statement issued Saturday.
Lagman argued that with the ‘unabated’ rise in the number of patients with COVID-19, as well as suspected virus carriers in the Philippines, the country needs as many frontline human health resources as possible who could assist the government in its efforts to contain the disease.
But he said medical workers should be compensated more, should they decide to take him up on his offer.
“The ban must be coupled with a hefty increase in the salaries and allowances, including hazard pay of medical frontline personnel in both public and private health facilities,” Lagman said.
There were reports that the United States would ease its entry requirements for foreign healthcare workers so they could be lured into working there, he said.
Currently, COVID-19 has spread faster across the U.S. than any other country in the world, as it posted the highest number of infected people, overwhelming its health care system.
In the Philippines, the number of individuals afflicted by the disease has exceeded 800, after the Department of Health reported 96 new cases on Friday. Meanwhile, the nationwide death toll has risen to 54, while the recoveries have gone up to 31. At least nine of the fatalities were Filipino doctors.
