MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has hired an additional 700 healthcare workers to fill up the over 10,000 slots needed for the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. During an online media forum on Friday, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the number of healthcare workers hired by the agency has reached 7,847. The newly-hired medical workers have already been deployed to 362 health facilities across the country, according to Vergeire. Under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, some P13.5 billion will be allocated for the emergency hiring of more health workers in a bid to augment the country’s medical workforce. As of Friday, the total COVID-19 caseload in the country rose to 209,544 with 3,999 additional cases.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 28, 2020 10:18 UTC