Pasay City: The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Tuesday announced the approval of a policy allowing part-time medical professionals at the University of the Philippines (UP) to count their combined service hours toward retirement benefits, addressing a long-standing gap in government service recognition.
According to Philippines News Agency, under Board Resolution No. 88, approved on Sept. 24, 2024, part-time professors at the UP College of Medicine (UPCM) who also serve as medical specialists at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) without compensation, or vice versa, will have their service hours fully recognized in government employment records.
GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said the reform acknowledges the vital role of UP doctors in both healthcare and education. "By crediting their full service hours, we ensure they receive the retirement benefits they deserve for their contributions to public service," he said in a news release.
The reform corrects a previous limitation caused by the lack of plantilla positions at UP Manila, which led to specialists taking on unpaid teaching roles or clinical duties. It formally recognizes UPCM and PGH as a single employer entity under the UP Manila Chancellor's office, allowing service time across both institutions to be consolidated for GSIS computation.
UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee and other university officials commended the move, presenting GSIS with a certificate of appreciation during a recent ceremony at the GSIS headquarters in Pasay City. The policy change was welcomed by medical professionals, many of whom have spent decades balancing patient care and teaching without full retirement credit.
"This is a well-deserved recognition of the dedication of UP Manila and PGH medical professionals," said Dr. John A±onuevo, chief of the PGH Department of Medicine. A±onuevo cited his 34 years of service, including 28 years split between clinical and teaching roles, which previously would not have been fully counted toward his government service record.
The policy change is expected to benefit surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, pharmacology experts, and others who split their time between clinical duties at PGH and teaching duties at UPCM. Recognizing the additional service hours of UP doctors highlights GSIS' ongoing efforts to improve the benefits system and ensure that the sacrifices and contributions of public servants are properly valued and compensated.
