“More than the grandiloquence (rhetoric) and optic, the recognition for our Barangay Health Workers should translate to immediate and concrete socio-economic benefits in return for their years of commitment and hard work for our people.” This was the Council for Health and Development’s reaction to Sen. Bong Go’s Senate Bill No. 427 or the Barangay Health Workers Compensation Act.

Citing low wages and high BHW to population ratio, CHD pointed out that many BHWs receive meager or token honoraria at Php 800-1000 monthly but perform their duties for 200-300 families – far from DOH’s prescription of 1 BHW per 20 families.

BHWs are also burdened by some of the workload that are left unfilled by health professionals in the communities. “Because many barangays do not have an adequate number of nurses and/or doctors proportionate to the geographical location and population, BHWs become the primary care providers for hundreds of their constituents. Many residents turn to them because the “nearest” primary care facilities take hours or days to reach,” CHD stated.

CHD furthered that the situation of BHWs reflect the situation of health care workers in our public health system — overworked and underpaid, lack of job security and protection, and high population to health worker ratios among others.

CHD added that protection for BHWs should also be ensured in a law made for them. Their civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights must recognized.

CHD asserts that the BHWs’ rights and welfare should be addressed in the framework of a comprehensive and progressive national health system that protects both the population and health workers’ rights.#