22 2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines ordinances prohibiting such discriminatory practices towards medical workers.88 48 Given this situation, the need to protect all healthcare professionals in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial as the doctor-topatient ratio currently stands at 1:40,000, far from the ideal 1:10,000.89 In line with this, PhilHealth Circular 2020-0011 provided health workers and those working under government health agencies, regardless of employment status, with full financial coverage status if ever they are infected by COVID-19.90 49 As a response to the lack of transportation during the lockdown, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) provided free transport to all health workers and other frontliners for the duration of the community quarantine.91 92 50 The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Office of the Vice President (OVP), and several LGUs have set up temporary dormitories for health care workers.93 94 95 51 The CHR is deeply concerned with the rising number of healthcare workers being infected with COVID-19. According to its statement, the WHO sees the figures worrisome as health workers cover 15% of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, compared to the 2-3% for the Western Pacific region. The CHR urged the DOH to review its policy to decentralize and ensure that more laboratories are accredited or made capable of conducting real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, ensure the efficient transportation of medical equipment and other lifesaving saving devices through sustained coordination 88 See https://www.cnn.ph/news/2020/4/7/Metro-Manila-mayors-discrimination-COVID-19.html. 89 Sanchez, Martha Jean,”Number of Doctors per 10,000 population in the Philippines by Region,” Statista, June 9, 2020 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1122063/philippines-number-of-doctors-by-region/, accessed 24 September 2020. 90 Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Full financial risk protection for Filipino health workers and patients against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0011, April 8, 2020, available at https://www. PhilHealth.gov.ph/circulars/2020/circ2020-0011.pdf, accessed 25 June 2020. 91 Department of Transportation, DOTr Free Bus Ride for Health Workers, April 12, 2020 available at http://www.dotr. gov.ph/55-dotrnews/1156-good-news-dotr-free-ride-for-health-workers-expands-to-20-routes.html#:~:text=To%20 date%2C%20the%20DOTr%20Free,12%2C%20CAR%2C%20and%20CARAGA, accessed 25 June 2020 92 See https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1316781/ovps-free-shuttle-service-for-frontliners-resumes-on-day-1-of-mecq. 93 Ferdinand Patinio, DPWH to build dorms for workers in QC hospitals, Philippine News Agency, May 21, 2020,available at https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1103571, accessed 25 June 2020. 94 See https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/30/dorm-for-healthcare-workers-completed-in-pampanga/. 95 See https://www.rappler.com/nation/list-office-vice-president-robredo-free-dormitories-coronavirus-frontliners.