An assessment of the implementation of the Magna Carta of public health workers among local government units in the Province of Iloilo

Abstract

This investigation was undertaken in the year 2005 to determine the extent of implementation of Magna Carta for health workers. The respondents of this study were 80 health workers in 22 municipalities. The researcher made use of secondary information and interview in order to gather the data needed in this study. The data gathered were computer-processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software Version 12. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results were interpreted at the alpha level of 0.05.

The study revealed that most of the health workers were deprived of longevity pay and hazard pay. Most of them, however received partial benefits in terms of subsistence and laundry allowances.

All the 22 municipalities provided RATA benefit, but did not provide for medicolegal allowance for physicians and remote assignment allowance for Public Health Workers. The biggest proportion of the workers received the standard salary, but a little more than one-third received less than the standard salary.

The Municipal Health Officers perceived that the LGUs are willing to implement Magna Carta if funds are available, but a considerable proportion opined that full Magna Carta implementation is impossible.

The extent of provision of the benefits under the Magna Carta was not dependent upon position of the health workers and the class of the municipalities where they worked. On the other hand, the extent of provision of hazard pay was dependent upon class of municipality where in the third and fifth class municipalities, all of the health workers were deprived of hazard pay benefit. Standard salary implementation was not dependent upon the position of the health workers and the class of the municipalities where they worked.

Based on the results of the study, the following recommendations are made: the LGUs should implement the financial provision of Magna Carta because this is a privilege of the health workers; the local health budget of LGUs be reviewed to determine how health is prioritized; this study should be replicated in other areas in Region VI; and finally, the submission of the results of this study to Department of Health for policy review and future direction.