BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Volunteer doctors in the province under the health department’s Doctors to the Barrios program are seeking help from lawyers over an order from Health Usec. Abdullah Dumama Jr. to assign them to private hospitals in Cebu City.
Physician Kaye Marie Yap, one of the six doctors currently assigned here, told DNX they are seeking advice from a lawyer regarding the order but will not follow it in the meantime.
Yap, the DOH focal person and incident commander in the southern city of Himamaylan, said they have signed a memorandum of agreement with the local government units under which they are assigned, have appointment letters from the mayors of these places, and have been concurred by the local councils.
To leave their assignments, she said, would be a breach of the agreements they have signed.
Aside from the possible violation, Yap said she is needed more in Himamaylan that has only one doctor, the city health officer, aside from her.
Two batches of the DTTB, 36 and 37, have earlier strongly called on the government to desist from the “abrupt exploitative order” to transfer the DDTBs from their assignments.
They pointed out they were not informed through writing and no proper consultations were conducted prior to the issuance of the directive.
Click link below to listen to the full interview by DNX Executive Editor Julius D. Mariveles with physician Kaye Marie Yap.
