Republic Act No. 7305 Quiz

Republic Act No. 7305: Magna Carta of Public Health Workers

• Purpose: Aims to improve the social and economic well-being of health workers

  • Enhances living and working conditions
  • Improves terms of employment
  • Develops skills and capabilities to better deliver health services
  • Encourages qualified individuals to join and stay in government health service

• Definition of 'Health Workers': Includes all individuals engaged in healthcare and related work within government-owned facilities.

  • This encompasses medical, allied health professionals, administrative, and support personnel, regardless of employment status.

• Married Public Health Workers: Efforts are made to assign married couples working in the public health sector to the same municipality, but not to the same office.

• Security of Tenure: Regular public health workers are protected from termination except for lawful cause and after due process.

  • Unjust dismissals result in reinstatement, back wages with interest, and the preservation of seniority rights.

• Prohibition of Discrimination: Public health workers are ensured equal treatment without discrimination based on gender, civil status, religious or political beliefs, or ethnicity.

• No Understaffing/Overloading: The Act mandates adequate staffing levels to prevent overburdening public health workers.

• Duties and Obligations: Health workers are obligated to:

  • Discharge duties humanely, with compassion and dignity.
  • Perform their duties with the utmost respect for life.
  • Exercise their functions without bias based on race, gender, religion, nationality, political affiliations, social status, or ability to pay.

• Normal Hours of Work: The maximum allowable work hours are eight hours daily, totaling 40 hours per week.

• Overtime Work: Beyond normal hours, public health workers can be required to work when necessary, but they are compensated for overtime according to prevailing laws and practices.

• Night-Shift Differential: Each hour of work during night shifts in hospitals earns an additional 10% of the regular hourly wage.

• Hazard Allowance: Public health workers in high-risk areas receive a hazard allowance:

  • 25% of monthly base salary for those earning below salary grade 19
  • 5% of monthly base salary for those earning salary grade 20 and above
  • These areas include those deemed dangerous, contagious, or exposed to radiation, volcanic activity, occupational risks, or peril to life.

• Longevity Pay: A monthly longevity pay of 5% of base pay is granted for every 5 years of continuous, efficient, and meritorious service.

• Laundry Allowance: Public health workers required to wear uniforms receive a monthly allowance of P125.00, subject to periodic review and adjustments.

• Remote Assignment Allowance: Additional incentive and benefits provided to doctors, dentists, nurses, and midwives assigned to remote or isolated stations.

  • 50% of basic pay as a remote assignment allowance
  • Reimbursement for transportation costs to and from the remote post during official trips.

Generic Act 1998

• Aims to ensure sufficient supply, distribution, and use of drugs and medicines identified by their generic names
• Promotes and requires generic terminology in all aspects of drug handling, from importation to dispensing

National Health Insurance Act of 1995 (RA 7875)

• Established the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
• PhilHealth is a tax-exempt government corporation attached to the Department of Health (DOH) for policy coordination
• Aims to provide universal health coverage for all Filipino citizens

Republic Act No. 11332

• Focuses on policies and procedures for surveillance and response to notifiable diseases, epidemics, and health events of public health concern
• Repeals Act No. 3573 (Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases)

Disease Surveillance

• Involves continuous systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data on disease occurrence
• Disseminates information for prompt public health action

Disease Notification

• Essential part of disease surveillance
• Involves timely reporting of specific diseases and conditions to public health authorities by healthcare professionals
• Uses designated reporting tools

Test your knowledge on the Republic Act No. 7305, known as the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers. This quiz covers its purpose, definitions, worker protections, and key provisions aimed at enhancing the well-being of health workers in the Philippines.