The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it will continue to hire healthcare workers to address the shortage of manpower in the hospitals accommodating the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients.

In a virtual Covid-19 presser, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that as of July 22, the DOH has filled 5,484 out of the 8,694 approved slots for emergency hiring of healthcare workers in 309 health facilities.

Vergeire made the remark in response to comments of some hospitals that they cannot allot more hospital beds for Covid-19 patients due to lack of manpower.

“Nabanggit po namin ang One Hospital Command kung saan may proposal po na magbibigay ng incentives at pabibilisin ang pag proseso ng Philhealth reimbursements para sa mga pribadong ospital para patuloy po silang tumanggap ng (We mentioned One Hospital Command where there’s a proposal to provide incentives and speed up the processing of Philhealth reimbursements for private hospitals so they’ll continue to accommodate) Covid-19 patients,” she said.

Earlier, the DOH said the One Hospital Command aims to increase the country’s health system capacity and improve the coordination between the DOH, hospitals, and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

It also aims to increase the referral of mild and asymptomatic cases of Covid-19 to temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

“The One Hospital Command will coordinate with local government unit composite teams, referral and liaison officers, logistics and support liaison officers, hospital and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities,” Vergeire added. (PNA)